v. 


Columbia  tUntoersitp 
intljeCitpofllciugark 


THE  LIBRARIES 


A  Life  Story. 


THE  REV.  NATHANIEL  GUNNISON 


AN   AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


OF    THE 


Rev.  Nathaniel  Gunnison 


WITH  EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  DIARIES,  SCRAP  BOOKS 

AND  PUBLIC  PRINTS,  WITH  A  SKETCH 

OF  HIS  WIFE 


ANN   LOUISA   FOSTER 


PREPARED  FOR  PRIVATE  CIRCULATION  AMONG  THEIR  CHILDREN 
AND  GRANDCHILDREN 


Edited  by  Foster  N  Gunnison  and  Herbert  Foster  Gunnison, 
and  Published  by  Herbert  Foster  Gunnison 


Second  Edition 


Brooklyn-New  York 
1910 


.9/  ' 


THE  edition  of  this  book  has  been  limited  to  one  hundred  copies.  They 
have  been  published  for  circulation  only  among  members  of  the  family 
and  intimate  friends.  My  father  left  a  manuscript,  carefully  written,  which 
told  the  story  of  his  early  life,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  diaries,  written 
to  the  year  of  his  death.  It  has  seemed  to  me  that  his  children  and  grand- 
children ought  to  read  this  story  of  a  busy  life  which  he  prepared  with  so 
much  pains  for  them,  and  which  is  so  intensely  interesting.  As  the  Autobiog- 
raphy is  in  my  possession,  the  duty  of  printing  it  naturally  devolved  upon  me. 
My  brother,  Foster  N.  Gunnison,  has  carefully  read  the  diaries  and  has  made 
such  extracts  as  he  thought  should  be  appreciated  by  members  of  the  family. 

We  have  been  most  fortunate  in  our  parents,  and  it  is  believed  that 
this  brief  record  of  their  lives  will  be  read  with  justifiable  pride  and  profit 
by  every  one  of  their  descendants  into  whose  hands  it  may  fall. 

1901.  Herbert  F.  Gunnison. 


Brooklyn,  1910,  a  second  edition  of  two  hundred  copies  was  printed.     The 
new  matter  was  prepared  by  Miss  Anna  L.  Gunnison  and  Miss  Alice  Gunnison. 

Herbert  F.  Gunnison. 


No. 


H. 


PRESENTED  TO 


J*   7\  ^MA^/<\ 


Zhe 
Hutobiograpb^  of  IRatbaniel  (Bunnison 


Perhaps,  after  I  am  dead,  my  children 
may  be  interested  in  knowing  something 
of  the  early  history  of  their  father,  and 
it  is  for  their  information  that  I  now 
record  so  much  of  my  introduction  into 
this  world,  and  my  pilgrimage  through 
it  as  has  been  handed  down  to  me  from 
my  ancestors,  and  written  in  my  own 
book  of  memory. 

Let  it  be  understood  then,  that  I, 
Nathaniel  Gunnison,  was  born  in  the 
Town  of  Goshen,  N.  H.,  on  the  14th  day 
of  February,  1811.  I  have  no  recollec- 
tion of  anything  that  transpired  on  that 
day,  but  have  been  informed  that  it  was 
one  of  the  coldest  days  of  the  season 
and  that  the  roads  were  completely 
blocked  up  with  snow,  so  that  the  whole 
neighborhood  was  called  out  with  their 
oxen  and  sleds  to  break  the  roads  so  that 
the  select  few  who  were  to  welcome  my 
advent  could  be  present  to  take  me  by 
the  hand. 

My  father  was  one  of  four  brothers 
who  shouldered  their  axes  and  marched 
into  the  woods,  and  selected  each  a  farm 
and  settled  down  for  life.  My  father's 
name  was  Nathaniel,  his  twin  brother 
was  named  Ephraim,  and  the  two  others 
were  Samuel  and  Daniel.  Three  of  them, 
Daniel,  Ephraim  and  Nathaniel,  settled 
in  the  town  of  Goshen.  Ephraim's  and 
Nathaniel's  farms  adjoined.  Samuel  set- 
tled nearby  in  the  town  of  Fishersfield, 
afterward  changed  to  Newburg. 

Their  farms  all  lay  at  the  foot  of  Sun- 
apee  Mountain  and  extended  nearly  to 
the  top  of  the  western  ridge.  The  land 
was  heavily  timbered,  rocky  and  of  a 
cold  clayey  soil,  good  for  grass  and  most 
kinds  of  grain,  yet  uninviting  on  account 


of  the  long  winters  and  deep  snows. 
However,  these  four  brothers  lived  in 
peace,  acquired  each  a  competency  and 
reared  large  families  of  children. 

My  father  married  Hannah  Batchelder, 
by  whom  was  born  unto  him  eleven 
children,  the  names  of  whom,  so  far  as 
I  can  remember,  were:  Sally,  who  mar- 
ried Caleb  Gage;  Polly,  who  married 
Parker  Richardson;  John,  who  married, 
for  his  first  wife,  Sally  Willey;  Levi  B., 
who  married  Rhoda  Hurd;  Hannah,  who 
maiTied  William  Smith;  Lemira,  who 
married  Homer  Chase,  and  Nathaniel, 
who  married  Sarah  A.  Richardson  for  his 
first  wife,  and  is  now  living  with  his  sec- 
ond wife,  who  is  the  mother  of  four  of 
bis  five  children. 

These  seven  children  were  all  that  were 
living  when  my  father  and  mother  died. 
The  other  four  died  in  infancy  or  before 
1  can  remember.  Nor  do  I  know  what 
their  names  were  if  they  had  any. 

Samuel  and  Daniel  died  before  I  was 
old  enough  to  have  any  definite  knowl- 
edge of  them,  yet  my  impressions  are 
that  I  was  about  12  or  13  years  old  when 
they  died.  Ephraim,  the  twin  brother 
to  my  father,  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
nearly  85,  and  died  with  cancer  on  his 
lip.  He  died  in  1852  or  1853,  and  his 
wife  a  few  months  later  with  the  same 
disease. 

My  father  and  mother  died  in  the 
spring  of  the  year  1813,  when  I  was 
but  2  years  old  the  February  before. 
Their  disease  was  the  spotted  fever;  yet 
they  died  scientifically  at  the  hands  of 
a  doctor,  and  within  one  hour  of  each 
other.  Fourteen  others,  heads  of  fam- 
ilies, died   in  the  same  way  and  about 


the  same  time,  and  under  the  same  treat- 
ment. All  died  scientifically.  Yet  the 
doctor  so  reproached  himself  for  his  mis- 
management as  to  be  stupid  all  the  rest 
of  his  days. 

My  father  and  mother  were  of  the  same 
age,  born  in  the  same  hour  and  died  the 
same  hour  and  were  buried  in  one  grave, 
side  by  side.  Their  gravestone  may  be 
seen  now,  after  a  lapse  of  forty-two 
years  in  the  North  Burying  ground  in 
Goshen.  Time  had  effaced  the  inscrip- 
tion and  in  1855  the  three  remaining 
brothers  caused  "Old  Mortality"  to  exer- 
cise his  art  upon  the  stones  and  repro- 
duce the  record  so  that  the  old  grave 
wears  somewhat  the  appearance  of  the 
present  age. 

At  2  years  of  age,  and  with  a  weak  and 
puny  organization,  I  commenced  my  pil- 
grimage alone,  and  could  I  call  to  mind 
all  the  crooked  and  rough  paths  over 
which  I  have  been  compelled  to  walk, 
you,  my  children,  would  hardly  credit  my 
story,  for  the  hardships  and  deprivations 
of  my  boyhood  days  are  not  often  ex- 
perienced by  children. 

I  have  no  recollections  of  my  father 
or  mother,  I  never  have  known  the  warm 
caress  of  parents  since  my  remembrance. 
How  they  looked  or  how  they  acted 
toward  me  I  have  no  remembrance. 

There  is  a  vague,  undefinable  recol- 
lection of  the  funeral  and  of  the  dead 
bodies  and  coffins,  and  that  is  all  the 
impression  that  I  have  of  my  parents. 
No  doubt  they  loved  me,  as  parents 
all  love  their  children,  but  their  ca- 
resses were  upon  an  infant  and  made 
no  distinct  impression  upon  my  memory. 
I  have  learned  from  my  brothers  and  sis- 
ters that  they  were  very  good,  moral 
and  Christian  people,  yet  not  very  pious, 
after  the  fashion  of  their  popular  church. 

My  father  was  a  very  industrious  man 
and  also  a  very  smart  man.  It  is  to  this 
day  reported  of  him  that  he  could  do 
the  work  of  two  ordinary  men.  He  could 
cut  down  all  the  trees  that  stood  upon 
an  acre  of  ground  in  a  day,  and  make  a 
pair  of  shoes  in  the  evening. 

It  will  be  understood  that  he  settled 


in  the  wilderness,  and  hence  felling  trees 
was  the  first  business  to  be  attended  to. 
No  doubt  he  was  a  very  smart  man 
physically  and  imparted  a  good  degree 
of  his  physical  energy  to  his  children. 

He  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  yet  he  had 
cleared  up  land  enough  for  a  large  farm, 
built  comfortable  buildings,  and  reared 
orchards  and  surrounded  himself  with  all 
the  conveniences  and  luxuries  of  life. 

As  before  recorded,  at  the  age  of  2 
years  and  2  months  I  was  left  without 
father  or  mother  to  care  for  me,  sur- 
rounded, to  be  sure,  with  brothers  and 
sisters,  some  of  them  old  enough  to  take 
care  of  me,  and  with  disposition  to  pro- 
vide for  my  wants. 

The  estate  of  my  father  was  settled 
how  or  by  whom  I  know  not  yet.  I  have 
heard  it  hinted  that  one  of  my  sisters 
who  was  married  before  my  father's 
death  and  had  received  her  portion  of 
the  estate,  came  in  and  took  rather  more 
than  an  equal  share,  so  that  the  minor 
children,  and  especially  myself,  came  off 
with  the  "Indian's  share,"  nothing  but 
the  goose,  while  she  took  the  turkey. 

However,  we  received  about  $500 
apiece,  which  was  put  upon  interest,  and 
we  were  all  put  under  guardians  for  the 
remainder  of  our  minorities. 

Uncle  Daniel  was  appointed  guardian 
for  my  youngest  sistei',  Lemira,  and  my- 
self. How  he  guarded  us  I  know  not, 
or  whether  he  guarded  us  at  all.  My  sis- 
ter, Lemira,  found  with  him  a  good  home, 
I  doubt  not,  but  I  was  transferred  to  my 
sister  Sally,  who  married,  about  the  time 
of  the  death  of  my  parents,  Caleb  Gage 
of  Wendell. 

My  recollections  of  this  sister  are  all 
pleasant.  She  was  a  mother  to  me,  in- 
deed, but  her  husband  was  passionate 
and  at  times  severe  even  to  cruelty. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  my  parents  I 
went  to  live  with  my  sister  (above  re- 
ferred to)  in  the  town  of  Wendell.  When 
old  enough  I  attended  school  in  an  old 
schoolhouse,  painted  red,  and  located  on 
the  side  of  a  hill,  and  pretty  much  sur- 
rounded by  woods. 
Here  I  learned  my  letters  and,  no  doubt, 


many  other  little  lessons  which  have 
been  of  great  service  to  me  in  after 
years. 

My  brother-in-law— Gage— was  at  times 
very  profane,  but  he  allowed  no  one  else 
connected  with  his  family  to  use  pro- 
fane language  at  all. 

I  recollect  that  when  I  was  about  6 
years  old  I  let  slip  some  words  which 
none  was  allowed  to  use  but  himself. 
I  was  immediately  called  to  an  account. 
1  could  not  deny  the  charge,  but  pleaded 
guilty  and  attempted  to  justify  myself 
upon  the  ground  of  having  learned  to 
swear  from  him.  But  my  justification 
was  not  received  and  I  had  to  receive  the 
sentence  of  twenty  lashes,  well  laid  on. 
I  was  taken  to  the  cider  mill,  tied  up  and 
flogged  to  the  tune  of  "Damn  you,  you 
little  devil  you,  will  you  swear  again?" 
My  reply  was:  "No;  you  damned  fool, 
you."  "Stop,  O  stop,  you  ugly  devil  you, 
or  I  will  knock  your  cursed  brains  out." 
And  so  he  swore  and  whipped  and  I 
swore  and  took  it,  till  my  poor  sister 
came  out  and  begged  him  not  to  kill  me, 
justifying  me  all  the  while  for  using  just 
the  words  that  I  had  learned  from  him. 

This  was  the  most  severe  flogging  that 
I  ever  received,  but  it  by  no  means  cured 
me  of  the  habit  of  swearing.  I  was  stub- 
born only  because  I  considered  it  unjust 
to  chastise  me  for  doing  what  my  master 
was  in  the  daily  habit  of  doing  in  my 
hearing. 

When  about  7  years  old  my  master 
sold  his  farm  and  in  company  with  some 
four  or  five  other  families  moved  to  the 
then  far  West. 

I  remember  all  the  particulars  of  that 
event,  and  what  followed.  There  were 
no  canals  nor  railroads  then  and  a  jour- 
ney of  four  hundred  miles  was  a  great 
undertaking,  not  to  be  thought  of  but 
by  the  enterprising  and  courageous. 

My  sister's  husband  had  been  out  West 
as  far  as  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  and  pur- 
chased an  eighty-acre  lot,  on  which  was 
a  rough  log  house,  and  a  few  acres  of 
cleared  land. 

Having  disposed  of  his  farm  in  Wen- 
dell and  settled  up  his  affairs,  he  packed 
up  and  started  for  his  new  home. 


There  were  in  the  company  some  six 
or  eight  heavy  ox  teams,  with  the  farm- 
ing tools,  furniture,  provisions,  etc. 

These  teams  started  nearly  a  week  be- 
fore the  families  set  out  with  horse 
teams,  expecting  to  overtake  thera  be- 
fore they  reached  the  Eldorado.  My 
brother,  Bartlett,  went  with  the  ox  teams. 
In  crossing  the  Connecticut  River  at 
Charleston,  he  was  knocked  overboard 
by  one  of  the  oxen  and  came  near  being 
drowned. 

In  about  one  week  the  families  fol- 
lowed in  covered  wagons,  drawn  by  two 
horses  each.  We  lived  on  board  for  four 
or  five  days  till  our  cooked  provision 
was  all  gone,  and  then  we  put  up  nights 
at  the  public  houses  and  cooked  provis- 
ion enough  to  last  till  next  night.  We 
were  about  twenty  days  performing  this 
journey. 

The  country  was  new,  roads  bad  and 
traveling  tedious.  I  remember  at  one 
place  I  attempted  to  walk  across  the 
road,  but  became  fast  in  the  mud.  I 
could  not  raise  a  foot,  and  there  I  stood, 
fast  in  the  slough,  the  perfect  personifi- 
cation of  despair,  and  doubtless  should 
have  remained  there  till  this  time  had  not 
some  one  come  to  my  rescue. 

We  passed  through  Oneida  where  there 
lived  a  powerful  tribe  of  Indians.  I  had 
never  seen  an  Indian  before  and  was,  of 
course,  much  amused  as  well  as  a  little 
frightened  at  them.  It  was  Sunday 
when  we  passed  through  their  settlement 
and  many  of  them  were  assembled 
around  a  few  tents  kept  by  the  whites, 
who  lived  by  selling  poor  whisky  to  the 
Indians.  Many  of  them  were  drunk  and 
some  of  them  very  quarrelsome.  Some 
were  well  dressed,  but  the  most  part 
were  covered  only  by  a  blanket.  One 
incident  that  happened  I  shall  never  for- 
get. Not  many  days  after  we  passed 
the  Indian  settlement  we  put  up  for  the 
night  at  a  poor  old  shabby  tavern.  My 
sister's  husband  had  a  small  trunk  in 
which  he  kept  all  his  money  and  valu- 
able papers.  He  was  a  shrewd  man  and 
could  read  the  character  of  a  man  or  a 
house  upon  first  sight.  He  soon  became 
satisfied  that  the  character  of  this  house 


was  bad,  and  that  before  morning  he 
might  be  visited  in  a  way  not  very  agree- 
able to  him. 

Accordingly  he  decided  to  have  all  the 
family  sleep  in  one  room  together,  and 
with  his  small  trunk  under  his  own 
head.  He  prepared  the  room,  arranged 
everything  to  his  own  taste  and  told  us 
all  to  go  to  sleep. 

He  was  prepared  with  a  good  solid  club 
to  act  on  the  defensive,  if  occasion  re- 
quired. He  heard  the  plan  all  arianged 
for  his  own  murder,  the  knives  ground 
and  the  grave  dug,  but  he  waited  pa- 
tiently for  the  visit  to  his  room,  and  past 
midnight  two  men  with  long  knives  stole 
into  our  room,  but  they  met  with  a  warm 
reception  and  were  glad  to  beat  a  retreat. 
We  were  all  frightened  except  my 
brother-in-law.  He  was  not  alarmed  for 
he  felt  that  he  could  defend  himself 
against  a  dozen  ruffians  who  live  by  pil- 
fering and  murder.  He  was  a  giant  in 
strength  and  laid  all  his  plans  in  a  mo- 
ment and  executed  with  the  excitement 
of  the  moment.  I  verily  believe  in  those, 
his  palmy  days,  he  could  whip  any  six 
ordinary  men.  The  murderers  of  the 
tavern  were  glad  to  escape  out  of  his 
iron  clutches. 

This  was  the  only  attempt  to  get  his 
rnoaey  during  the  journey,  yet  he  never 
trusted  it  beyond  his  reach. 

After  a  long  and  tiresome  journey  of 
twenty  days  we  reached  the  place  of  our 
destination  late  in  the  fall,  and  imme- 
diately moved  into  our  rude  log  house, 
which  I  will  try  to  describe. 

It  was  constructed  of  round  logs, 
chinked  and  made  tight  with  clay,  of 
which  there  was  an  abundance  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  house.  In  rear  and  in 
front  were  doors  which  served  for  in- 
gress and  egress,  light,  air,  etc.,  as  there 
were  no  windows.  The  roof  was  covered 
with  bark  and  the  floor  had  a  few  boards, 
but  generally  the  hard  earth  constituted 
the  floor.  There  was  an  upper  room  in 
which  we  children  slept,  after  ascending 
a  rough  ladder.  The  timbers  of  this  up- 
per sleeping  apartment  were  rough  split 
and  near  each  other  so  that  a  small  child 
could  not  fall  between  them  and  yet  far 
enough  apart  to  admit  the  light. 


At  one  end  of  this  rude  hut  was  a  large 
fireplace,  without  jambs  or  hearth.  The 
chimney  was  perhaps  twelve  feet  square 
and  constructed  of  sticks  and  clay.  Into 
this  huge  fireplace  was  placed,  by  the 
help  of  oxen,  at  least  half  a  cord  of  wood 
every  night,  which  kept  a  blazing  fire  all 
night.  Wood  was  all  around  the  hut  and 
the  more  that  could  be  burned  the  better. 

In  this  rude  hut  we  lived  for  one  year 
or  more,  while  a  new  frame  house  was 
being  constructed  and  surely  I  do  not 
think  the  family  was  unhappy.  The  for- 
ests surrounded  our  abode  and  furnished 
us  with  venison,  etc.  It  was  not  long, 
however,  before  the  tall  trees  lay  low 
and  a  field  of  wheat  and  corn  and  po- 
tatoes appeared  to  repay  the  hardy 
farmer  for  his  labors. 

We  moved  into  the  new  frame  house 
as  soon  as  one  room  was  finished  and 
commenced  a  new  era  in  our  wilderness 
home.  My  brother-in-law  soon  cleared 
up  his  land,  raised  wheat  and  began  to 
thrive  and  gather  around  him  all  the 
comforts  of  wealth  and  society. 

The  first  school  I  attended  in  this  new 
country  was  kept  by  a  young  lady  in  an 
old  log  schoolhouse,  which  would  com- 
pare very  well  with  the  majority  of  log 
houses  in  the  settlement. 

I  remember  well  that  a  few  of  the 
large  boys  (from  7  to  12  years  of  age) 
became  rebellious  and  refused  to  obey 
the  rules  of  our  teacher.  Complaint  was 
made  to  my  guardian  and  of  course  my 
back  had  to  pay  the  penalty,  and  then  I 
was  taken  home  and  put  at  hard  labor 
for  the  rest  of  the  term. 

Winter  came  and  with  it  a  two  fisted 
master  for  the  log  schoolhouse.  All  the 
young  men  and  women  in  the  settlement 
attended  the  winter  school  and  no  doubt 
made  good  progress  in  their  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetic,  which  constituted 
the  round  of  studies  for  these  times.  I 
remember  that  I  made  some  improve- 
ment during  this  long  winter,  was  whip- 
ped a  few  times,  and  graduated  in  the 
spring  with  the  high  honors  of  promo- 
tion from  the  spelling  book  to  the  Eng- 
lish reader. 


10 


But,  in  a  few  years,  the  old  log  school- 
bouse  was  demolished  and  a  new  frame 
building  put  up  in  its  stead,  to  which  we 
urchins  repaired  with  hearts  beating 
quick,  not  knowing  what  things  might 
befall  us  there. 

And  thus  time  passed  with  me  till  1  was 
14  years  of  age.  There  were  times  when 
my  path  was  exceedingly  rough  and  up- 
hill. I  recollect  that  during  one  entire 
winter  I  had  no  shoes  to  my  feet  and 
yet  with  old  stocking  feet  and  rags  such 
as  I  could  pick  up  and  sew  together,  I 
attended  school  without  losing  a  single 
day.  My  bare  feet  became  accustomed 
to  the  snow  and  I  suffered  but  little  with 
the  cold. 

It  was  during  this  winter  that  1  was 
selected  as  the  best  scholar  in  the  school 
as  a  delegate  to  a  public  exhibition  at  the 
village  of  Canandaigua.  Some  friends  of 
education  had  called  a  convention  and 
invited  every  school  in  the  county  to 
send  two  of  their  best  scholars,  to  whom 
prizes  were  awarded  according  to  their 
advancement,  etc. 

But  here  was  a  difficulty.  I  had  no 
clothes  nor  shoes.  My  sister  felt  a  de- 
gree of  pride  at  the  election  of  her  rag- 
ged little  brother  and  set  her  wits  to 
work  to  see  what  could  be  done  in  the 
way  of  a  fit  out  for  so  important  a  mat- 
ter. 

There  was  no  cloth  in  the  house  from 
which  she  could  construct  a  pair  of 
trousers.  As  to  shoes,  I  could  wear  hers 
and  she  could  get  along  with  my  old 
stocking  feet  for  one  day. 

She  finally  concluded  to  take  off  her 
own  red  petticoat  and  make  a  pair  of 
pants  out  of  that. 

The  day  arrived  and  I  set  out  to  meet 
a  thousand  people  and  scholars  of  all 
ages  and  grades,  with  my  red  pants, 
which  on  account  of  the  scantiness  of  the 
petticoat,  reached  from  my  waist  to  the 
tops  of  my  stockings.  But  what  cared 
I  so  long  as  I  stood  in  my  sister's  calf 
shoes  and  no  rags  upon  my  feet. 

In  due  season  I  arrived  at  the  place 
of  meeting  and  was  conducted  by  my 
very  kind  teacher  to  the  seat  assigned  to 
me. 


It  is  true,  when  I  heard  the  village 
boys  sneer  at  my  red  pants,  and  heard 
them  say  "there  goes  red  breeches,"  that 
a  strange  feeling  came  over  me.  I  felt 
oppressed  and  mortified,  but  when  I 
stood  up  to  read  and  received  the  kind 
words  of  encouragement  and  praise 
from  the  committee,  I  felt  that  my  scanty 
garments,  red  and  faded,  did  not  lessen 
me  in  their  estimation. 

And  from  that  day  to  the  present  I 
have  never  allowed  a  poor  boy  to  feel 
embarrassed  in  my  presence  on  account 
of  his  rags,  nor  have  I  ever  failed  to 
take  the  part  of  such  when  better  clad 
boys  have  sneered  at  their  appearance. 
This  was  the  lesson  taught  me  at  that 
time  which  has  ruled  me  thus  far  and 
ever  will. 

Sometime  (I  do  not  recollect  the  date) 
before  I  was  14  years  of  age,  my  sister, 
who  had  been  to  me  the  only  mother  I 
ever  knew,  was  taken  sick  and  in  a  few 
days  closed  her  eyes  in  death. 

I  remember  very  distinctly  all  the  cir- 
cumstances of  her  sickness,  death  and 
burial.  Her  funeral  sermon  was  preached 
by  an  old  man,  who  gave  the  mourners 
all  the  consolation  his  partial  creed  would 
allow. 

After  this  sad  experience  my  brother- 
in-law,  Gage,  and  my  own  brother,  Bart- 
Iett,  concluded  to  make  a  visit  to  New 
Hampshire  and  take  me  with  them.  We 
set  out  with  a  span  of  smart  horses,  and 
in  an  open  buggy  wagon  I  performed  the 
journey  in  about  eight  days,  more  or 
less.  This  was  late  in  November.  We 
reached  the  land  of  my  nativity  and 
were  welcomed  by  our  numerous  friends 
and  relatives. 

In  a  few  days  I  was  taken  down  with 
a  fever  and  confined  to  the  house  for  a 
number  of  weeks.  The  M.  D.  was  sent 
for  and  friends  gathered  around  my  bed 
to  attend  upon  my  wants.  The  powders 
and  pills  were  dealt  out,  blisters  applied 
and  every  arrangement  made  for  me  to 
die  scientifically.  The  medicine  was 
taken  into  my  mouth  and  then  spit  be- 
hind the  bed.  It  worked  to  a  charm,  and 
the  fame  of  the  physician  spread  far  and 


11 


wide  and  his  practice  increased  day  by 
day. 

After  my  recovery  so  far  as  to  be  able 
to  sit  up  a  part  of  the  day  I  directed  my 
kind  friends  and  the  doctor  to  look  be- 
hind the  bed,  when,  to  their  astonish- 
ment, stacks  of  pills  and  powders  burst 
upon  their  wondering  vision.  I  have  no 
doubts  that  I  owe  my  life  to  my  stub- 
born will  against  medicine  on  this  oc- 
casion, for  Dr.  W.  was  a  young  practi- 
tioner of  the  old  Colonial  school,  and  had 
I  taken  his  poison  my  friends  would 
have  been  put  to  the  disagreeable  task 
of  conveying  my  poisoned  body  to  the 
churchyard. 

The  time  came  for  my  brothers  to  re- 
turn to  their  Western  home,  but  I  was 
not  able  to  return  with  them  and  so  I 
remained  with  my  brother  John  and  for 
two  years  worked  with  him  on  the  farm. 

This  brother  was  full  of  life  and  activ- 
ity, up  early  and  late  and  upon  a  drive 
from  morning  till  night,  fractious  and 
hasty,  yet  kind  and  generous.  His  farm 
was  rough  and  rocky  and  a  weakly  boy 
like  me  found  it  very  difficult  to  please  so 
strong  a  man  as  my  brother. 

I  was  called  lazy,  and  slow,  and,  in  fact, 
unprofitable,  when  indeed  I  was  in- 
capable of  performing  the  duties  imposed 
upon  me.  I  never  possessed  a  strong 
constitution  till  I  was  17  years  of  age. 
Up  to  that  time  I  was  weak  and  pind- 
ling. 

My  guardian  had  failed  and  I  had  ar- 
rived at  the  lawful  age  to  choose  for 
myself.  I  selected  my  brother-in-law, 
Parker  Richardson,  a  kind-hearted  and 
prudent  man,  yet  uneducated  and  a  wor- 
shiper of  mammon. 

After  living  with  my  brother  awhile 
it  was  thought  best  for  me  to  be  put  to 
a  trade.  I  chose  the  cabinet  and  paint- 
ers' trade  and  went  to  work  with  Will- 
iam Lowell  of  Newport.  At  this  busi- 
ness I  continued  perhaps  six  or  eight 
months,  did  not  like  it  and  left.  Next  I 
tried  the  clothiers'  trade  with  a  relative 
of  mine,  and  did  not  like  this  any  better 
and  left. 

About  this  time  my  brother  Bartlett, 
from  the  West,  came  to  town  after  the 


girl  he  had  courted  for  a  wife,  Miss 
Rhoda  Hurd.  They  were  married  and 
about  to  return  to  their  Western  home. 
I  felt  a  desire  to  go  with  them.  They 
consented,  and  we  set  out  with  a  one- 
horse  wagon,  full  of  boxes,  crockery, 
etc. 

After  about  ten  days'  travel  we  reached 
the  place  of  our  destination,  just  before 
harvest.  I  lived  with  them  about  one 
year  and  worked  on  the  farm  for  my 
board  and  pretty  poor  clothing. 

Late  in  the  fall,  after  I  was  16  years  of 
age  a  cousin  from  the  noi'th  part  of  New 
Hampshire  come  along  from  a  town 
further  west  and  invited  me  to  go  home 
with  him.  I  accepted  the  invitation  and 
packed  up  the  few  duds  I  possessed  and 
we  started  in  an  open  wagon,  with  two 
horses,  and  with  about  $8  in  my  pocket. 

At  Albany  we  put  up  our  team,  took  a 
boat  and  visited  the  city  of  New  York. 
Here  we  spent  two  or  three  days  seeing 
sights  and  staring  at  the  wonders  of  a 
great  city.  We  returned  to  Albany  and 
resumed  our  journey  eastward  and  ar- 
rived at  Coventry,  among  the  Moose- 
hillock  Mountains,  early  in  the  winter. 
In  the  Town  of  Corinth,  Vt.,  we  tarried 
a  few  weeks,  and,  being  destitute  of 
money,  I  worked  a  few  days  at  my  old 
Irade  of  painting  and  cutting  cordwood, 
purchased  an  old  pair  of  boots  and  then 
visited  my  uncle,  Daniel  Batchelder,  in 
Coventry,  N.  H.,  as  before  mentioned. 

This  uncle  on  my  mother's  side  was  a 
clergyman  of  the  Baptist  order,  and  it 
was  said  his  wife  was  the  better  preacher 
of  the  two,  and  would  frequently  follow 
her  husband  to  his  appointments  and 
take  the  wind  out  of  his  sails  by  rising 
in  her  place,  taking  his  text  and  giving 
the  substance  of  his  sermon.  She  was 
a  real  torment  and  continued  so  as  long 
as  the  old  man  lived. 

With  this  family  I  tarried  a  few 
months,  working  my  board  and  wearing 
out  my  clothes.  In  February  I  started 
on  foot  for  Goshen,  my  native  town,  a 
distance  of  seventy  miles.  The  weather 
was  freezing  cold,  my  clothes  were  well 
worn  and  scant  and  I  suffered  much  from 
the  cold.     One  night,  after  walking  all 


12 


day  without  a  mouthful  of  food,  and 
nearly  exhausted,  I  called  at  a  shabby 
looking  old  farmhouse  and  asked  per- 
mission to  tarry  over  night.  My  feet 
were  badly  frozen,  ears  also  and  fingers, 
and  my  whole  system  chilled  so  that  1 
fainted  upon  coming  to  the  fire. 

This  family  took  me  in,  chafed  my 
temples  and  did  everything  for  me  that 
affection  and  kindness  could  prompt. 
They  made  warm  tea  and  provided  a 
warm  supper  and  dressed  my  frozen 
limbs  and  put  me  into  a  nice  warm  bed, 
after  having  listened  to  my  story  of  or- 
phanism  and  hardship. 

The  next  morning  I  arose,  much  re- 
freshed, yet  lame  and  sore  from  head  to 
foot.  The  good  woman  of  the  house 
made  me  put  on  a  new  pair  of  socks 
which  she  had  knit  for  her  own  son,  and 
a  new  pair  of  mittens  and  other  gar- 
ments suitable  to  the  climate  and  season, 
wondering  how  a  rich  old  Baptist  minis- 
ter could  suffer  a  boy  to  set  out  on  such 
a  journey  with  such  poor  clothes,  in- 
sufficient to  keep  him  from  perishing  on 
the  road. 

My  money  was  reduced  to  a  single 
quarter,  and  this  I  offered  to  the  good 
woman  for  her  trouble,  which  she 
promptly  refused,  and,  seeing  my  scanty 
means,  she  filled  my  pockets  with  pro- 
visions to  last  at  least  one  whole  day. 

I  left  this  hospitable  family  with  emo- 
tions of  gratitude,  although  by  their  con- 
versation I  learned  that  in  religion  they 
were  heretics,  that  is,  believers  in  God 
as  the  one  Father  and  heaven  as  the 
one  home,  which  I  had  been  taught  to 
believe  were  very  bad  sentiments,  that 
none  but  very  wicked  people  could  en- 
tertain. 

However,  I  left  them  with  a  heart 
swelling  with  emotions  of  gratitude  and 
firmly  convinced  that  those  were  good 
people,  notwithstanding  they  held  such 
awful  sentiments,  and  from  that  day  I 
began  to  feel  an  undefinable  sympathy 
and  attraction  toward  the  people  called 
Universalists. 

It  was  the  first  time  in  my  life  that  I 
had  seen  or  known  anything  like  disin- 


terested benevolence.  My  heart  was 
touched  and  although  my  religious  sense 
was  shocked  by  the  announcement  that 
they  were  Universalists,  yet  from  that 
moment  I  felt  a  veneration  for  that  name, 
and  ever  after  felt  a  desire  to  be  near 
this  class  of  people,  considering  them 
better  than  others,  notwithstanding  their 
wicked  unbelief.  Not  knowing  anything 
of  their  faith,  their  goodness  of  heart 
came  near  driving  me  into  infidelity, 
which  I  shall  explain  in  due  time. 

The  kind  treatment  I  received  of  this 
family  caused  me  to  realize  as  I  was 
pursuing  my  lonely  way  that  when  I 
came  to  be  a  man  and  had  a  home  of 
my  own,  no  poor  boy  or  man  should  ever 
be  turned  from  my  door  without  relief, 
which  resolution  I  have  kept  to  this  day, 
nearly  thirty  years.  My  door  has  been 
ever  open  and  no  poor  traveler  has  been 
turned  away  when  he  asked  relief. 

It  is  an  old  saying  that  troubles  do  not 
come  singly,  but  in  pairs  and  often  in 
flocks.  So  we  may  say  of  blessings.  It 
was  so  with  me.  Toward  evening  on 
the  day  above  named  I  called  at  a  shoe- 
maker's shop  to  inquire  the  way.  The 
cordwainer  was  very  communicative, 
talked  incessantly,  asked  me  many  ques- 
tions as  to  my  name,  whereabouts,  etc., 
etc.,  when,  to  the  astonishment  of  both 
of  us,  we  found  that  ten  years  before  we 
lived  with  the  same  man  and  hence  felt 
acquainted  at  once.  He  insisted  upon  my 
tarrying  with  him  over  night  and  the 
next  day,  indeed,  a  number  of  days,  till 
there  should  be  a  change  in  the  weather. 

And,  again,  to  my  astonishment,  I 
found  a  family  of  Universalists,  kind, 
generous,  and  so  far  as  I  could  dis- 
tinguish, not  worse  than  other  people 
generally,  but  on  the  score  of  humanity 
far  before  them. 

In  a  few  days  I  arrived  in  Goshen  at 
the  house  of  my  guardian,  at  which  place 
I  felt  at  home.  The  school  was  in  ses- 
sion and  I  immediately  commenced  at- 
tending. 

In  the  spring  I  let  myself  for  six 
months,  at  $8  per  month,  with  Homer 
Chase  of  Unity,  who  had  married  my 
youngest  sister,  Lemira.     I  worked  my 


13 


time  out,  went  to  school  the  next  winter, 
and  then  worked  out  by  the  month  till 
the  fall  of  1830. 

A  number  of  my  mates  were  goiDg  to 
Hopkintown,  N.  H.x  to  school  to  prepare 
for  teaching.  I  wished  to  go  with  them, 
but  had  no  money  nor  clothes,  and  my 
guardian  opposed  my  going.  It  would 
cost  money  and  I  ought  to  save  my 
money  and  add  to  it  and  go  to  work,  etc. 

However,  I  wanted  an  education  I 
cared  not  for  money.  So  I  determined 
to  go  at  all  hazards.  My  capital  con- 
sisted of  $4.33.  One  dollar  I  gave  to 
my  nephew,  A.R.,  to  carry  me  forty  miles 
to  school.  We  went  in  the  night  to  save 
our  tolls,  arrived  in  Hopkintown  at  sun- 
rise, ate  our  bread  and  cheese,  found  a 
boarding  place  at  $1.25  per  week  and 
commenced  in  earnest  my  education. 

My  clothes  were  coarse  and  poor,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  style,  which  often 
subjected  me  to  the  scoff  and  ridicule  of 
the  young  men  with  whom  I  associated, 
but  as  I  was  considered  a  right  down 
good  fellow,  and  always  ready  for  fun 
and  frolic,  I  soon  occupied  a  good  position 
with  the  students  and  the  preceptor  spoke 
kindly  to  me. 

My  money  all  went  the  first  week  for 
my  books  and  so  I  went  through  the 
term  penniless,  with  no  means  to  pay 
my  board  and  other  incidental  expenses. 
I  felt  disconsolate  and  discouraged  and 
ready  to  give  up  in  despair,  when  the 
kind  preceptor  sent  for  me  one  day  to 
call  upon  him. 

I  obeyed  the  summons.  He  questioned 
me  upon  my  future  prospects,  intentions, 
etc.  I  made  my  case  known  to  him  and 
my  wish  to  attend  school,  etc.  He  en- 
tered into  ray  feelings,  proposed  to  ob- 
tain a  school  for  me  and  help  me  to  help 
myself.  I  considered  myself  incompetent 
and  unqualified,  but  he  urged  me  to  the 
effort,  inspired  me  with  confidence,  gave 
me  a  letter  of  introduction  and  recom- 
mendation, and  with  my  books  and  a 
bundle  of  clothes,  I  set  out  on  a  voyage 
of  adventure,  found  a  school  in  the  town 
of  Boscowen  and  engaged  for  $12  a  month 
for  three  months,  entered  the  old,  rickety 
schoolhouse     and     found     about    thirty 


young  men  and  women,  beside  a  fair 
complement  of  young  children. 

Here  I  reigned  with  good  success  three 
whole  months,  received  my  $36  and  re- 
turned to  Hopkintown,  paid  off  my  bills 
and  started  on  foot  forty  miles  for  home, 
having  $7  in  my  pocket. 

Of  course  I  felt  pretty  well,  having 
kept  school  and  not  having  been  turned 
out.  But  the  spring  term  was  to  com- 
mence in  a  few  weeks,  and  I  must  be 
there  on  the  first  day.  Seven  dollars  was 
the  extent  of  my  means  and  my  clothes 
were  in  a  wretched  condition,  and  what 
could  be  done? 

I  resolved  to  go  to  work  at  once  and 
get  me  some  clothes,  so  I  took  a  job  of 
wood  cutting  for  $7  and  my  board.  This 
occupied  about  three  weeks  of  my  time, 
during  which  time  I  had  my  wardrobe 
overhauled  and  improved,  all  of  which 
used  up  my  money  within  $5. 

With  this  small  capital  and  the  dignity 
of  a  successful  teacher  I  returned  to 
Hopkintown  at  the  commencement  of  the 
spring  term,  and  again  ran  in  debt  for 
books  and  board,  which  I  paid  by  work- 
ing out  six  weeks  in  haying  time. 

And  thus  I  continued  to  attend  school, 
spring  and  autumn  for  four  years,  pay- 
ing for  my  fall  term  by  teaching  in  the 
winter,  and  for  my  spring  term  by  work- 
ing out  in  haying,  having  all  the  time  not 
one  suit  of  clothes  fit  to  wear  to  meeting 
and  never  a  spax*e  dollar  in  my  pocket. 

These  were  trying  times  to  a  poor  boy, 
without  a  friend  to  assist  or  even  advise 
with  him.  Yet  I  persevered  and  con- 
quered, leaving  the  school  with  honors 
and  the  best  recommendation  of  my 
preceptor. 

My  success  as  a  teacher  had  given  me 
currency,  so  that  the  best  schools  were 
at  my  command,  and  I  arose  above  pen- 
ury into  comparative  ease,  and,  indeed, 
closed  one  of  my  schools  with  a  sufficient 
sum  in  my  pocket  to  purchase  a  new  suit 
of  clothes  throughout,  hat  and  boots. 
And  this  new  suit  was  the  first  suit  of 
broadcloth  ever  seen  around  and  worn 
by  a  citizen  of  Goshen.  It  produced 
quite  a  sensation  and  all  my  mates,  far 
and  near,  came  to  examine  and  see  for 


14 


themselves  a  broadcloth  coat,  made,  too, 
by  a  man  tailor. 

Up  to  this  time  all,  young  and  old,  had 
worn  homemade  cloth,  and  women  made 
garments.  The  young  schoolmaster  was 
the  first  to  introduce  a  new  style  of 
dress. 

Of  course,  such  an  innovation  was  not 
allowed  to  pass  without  some  severe  re- 
marks from  old  and  young.  For  weeks 
I  was  the  observed  of  all  observers,  and 
the  subject  of  many  criticisms. 

About  this  time  I  became  acquainted 
with  a  young  lady  of  good  education  and 
other  good  qualities  which  attracted  me 
toward  her,  and  after  many  months  of 
intimacy  and  mutual  attentions,  I  pro- 
posed a  correspondence,  which  was  ac- 
cepted and  finally,  after  two  years, 
ripened  into  a  union  of  hearts  and  hands. 

This  marriage  took  place  in  February, 
1834,  in  the  Town  of  Goshen,  N.  H.,  at 
the  house  of  her  father,  David  Richard- 
son, Rev.  W.  S.  Balch,  then  of  Clare- 
mont,  N.  H.,  officiating.  My  wife's  name 
was  Sarah  Ann  Richardson,  and  a  more 
lovely  woman  was  never  led  to  the  bridal 
altar. 

1834— Married  and  Buys  a  Farm.     Sells 

and   Purchases   Again  and   Enters 

Into  Contract  to   Support 

Parents,   etc. 

A  few  days  after  the  marriage  I  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Goshen  for  $1,000  (sixty 
acres),  and  carried  it  on  one  year,  when 
I  sold  for  a  small  advance  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  stock,  tools,  produce  and 
everything  belonging  to  the  parents  of 
my  wife  and  entered  into  agreement  to 
support  them  during  their  lives  for 
the  paltry  sum  of  $800,  assuming  debts 
to  the  amount  of  $2,700  and  holding 
property  from  the  estate  to  cover  the 
same. 

We  moved  into  the  house  with  the 
old  people,  and  lived  as  one  family.  And 
here  I  must  describe  the  venerable  pair 
that  we  had  obligated  ourselves  to  live 
with  and  support. 

Father  Richardson  was  a  venerable 
gentleman  of  about  60  years,  industrious, 


mild  and  honest.  Everybody  said  he  was 
a  good  man  and  would  never  make 
trouble  for  any  one.  His  daughter,  my 
wife,  was  his  idol.  He  almost  worshiped 
her  and  was  never  weary  in  laboring  for 
her.  With  him  we  found  all  pleasant 
and  kind. 

But  the  old  lady,  I  suppose  I  ought  to 
say  Mother  Richardson,  was  in  every 
point  of  character  the  extreme  opposite 
of  the  old  gentleman.  She  was  nearly 
twenty  years  younger,  high  spirited, 
proud,  selfish,  intemperate,  and  in  gen- 
eral language  supremely  ugly.  She  had 
been  accustomed  to  rule  indoors  and  out, 
to  make  all  the  bargains,  to  handle  all 
the  money  and,  in  fact,  wear  under- 
neath a  dirty  set  of  petticoats  a  pair  of 
leather  or  cast  iron  breeches. 

I  had  not  fairly  got  acquainted  with  the 
premises  before  she  commenced  her 
tyranny  upon  me,  but  it  was  a  mercy  to 
her  that  she  did  not  get  her  old  fiery  head 
smashed.  I  threatened  one  day  after 
much  provocation  to  make  an  end  of  her 
if  she  did  not  make  herself  scarce  in  a 
very  few  minutes.  She  was,  for  the 
first  time  in  her  life,  frightened,  and 
shut  up. 

For  six  or  eight  months  I  endured  her 
anger  and  ugliness,  when  I  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  I  could  stand  it  no  longer 
and  proposed  to  be  relinquished  from  my 
obligations. 

Asa,  the  only  son,  had  lost  his  wife 
and  was  willing  to  take  my  obligation 
and  release  me  from  my  bonds.  All 
parties  being  willing  we  dissolved  our 
connection  with  one  of  the  most  disagree- 
able concerns  that  ever  tormented  a  poor 
son-in-law. 

This  dissolution  of  partnership  took 
place  on  the  25th  of  September,  1835. 

During  the  following  winter,  about  the 
first  of  January,  1836,  I  purchased  an- 
other farm  of  about  eighty  acres,  known 
as  the  Allen  Farm,  in  Newport,  paying 
about  $1,200,  to  which  I  added  about  a 
hundred  acres  more. 

Here  I  lived  one  year,  carried  on  the 
farm  and  taught  school  during  the  win- 
ter months  at  wages  varying  from  $14 
to  $20  per  month. 


* 


15 


On  the  28th  of  April,  a  daughter  was 
born  unto  us,  Maxilla  A.  Of  course  we 
hailed  the  event  as  one  of  rejoicing. 

During  the  winter  my  beloved  wife  was 
taken  suddenly  sick.  I  hastened  for  a 
physician  and  brought  him  without  de- 
lay, but  the  symptoms  were  alarming 
and  he  gave  me  no  encouragement.  I 
hastened  for  a  consultation  of  physicians, 
but  all  to  no  purpose.  She  rapidly  de- 
clined and  in  less  than  one  week  was  no 
more  on  earth. 

Troubled  waters  rolled  around  me 
then.  It  was  my  first  severe  trial.  She 
died  as  she  had  lived,  full  of  faith,  not 
fearing  the  dark  valley  she  was  enter- 
ing. 

She  called  me  to  her  bedside  and  gave 
me  such  counsel  as  a  loving  and  devoted 
wife  only  could  give,  committing  to  my 
chai'ge  her  infant  babe,  and  commend- 
ing it  and  me  to  the  care  of  our  Father 
in  heaven. 

I  had  for  years  professed  a  cold,  specu- 
lative belief  in  the  doctrine  of  universal 
salvation  and  attended  upon  its  ministry 
with  some  degree  of  liberality,  but  never 
till  now  did  I  feel  the  power  of  true  faith. 
The  religion  I  had  loosely  held  to  for 
years  now  seemed  to  be  indeed  a  balm 
for  my  wounded  heart  and  a  cordial  for 
all  my  fears.  It  gave  me  peace  and  as- 
surance that  my  lost  one  had  gone  to 
her  father  and  my  father  and  that  ulti- 
mately we  should  meet  again  no  more  to 
part. 

I  felt  reconciled  and  happy  although 
my  house  was  left  unto  me  desolate. 

The  day  of  burial  came.  It  was  a 
severely  cold  day.  Brother  A.  L.  Balch 
of  Newport  officiated  and  preached  an 
admirable  sermon  in  the  orthodox  meet- 
ing house  at  Goshen  Corner,  Mr.  Rogers, 
the  orthodox  clergyman,  making  the 
prayer.  After  the  services  at  the  grave 
I  returned  to  my  desolate  home  and  re- 
mained one  night  only  in  the  lonely 
dwelling. 

On  that  lonely  night,  while  contem- 
plnting  my  situation  and  receiving 
heavenly  peace  from  my  faith  in  heaven 
as  the  one  common  home,  I  resolved  to 
give  up  my  prospects  of  wealth  and  go 


out  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God,  not  doubting  in  the  least 
but  that  I  could  convert  the  world  in  a 
very  short  time.  The  evidences  of  the 
truth  of  the  doctrine  of  Universalism 
were  so  abundant  and  clear  to  my  own 
heart  that  I  doubted  not  that  I  could 
bring  over  to  the  same  glorious  faith  all 
my  friends  and  acquaintances. 

I  finished  my  school  and  in  April,  1837, 
commenced  study  for  the  ministry  with 
Rev.  A.  L.  Balch  of  Newport,  N.  H. 

Thus  the  whole  current  of  my  life  was 
changed  by  this  one  affliction.  Had  not 
God  visited  me  with  a  severe  trial  I 
doubtless  should  have  continued  a  tiller 
of  the  soil  and  become  a  worshiper  of 
dollars.  But  God  had  another  work  for 
me  to  do  and  He  appointed  the  means  to 
turn  my  attention  towrard  it.  Afflictions 
do  not  come  by  chance.  They  are  of 
God's  appointing.  By  affliction  I  was 
made  a  minister  of  the  Word  of  Truth. 

I  entered  upon  the  work  with  my 
whole  soul.  I  had  but  one  object  in  view: 
the  good  of  my  race,  by  liberating  their 
minds  from  the  fetters  of  a  partial  creed 
and  bringing  them  to  the  enjoyment  of 
a  full  faith  in  God  as  the  Universal 
Father,  and  heaven  as  a  universal  home. 

The  idea  of  an  easy  life  or  of  wealth 
never  entered  my  mind.  I  felt  willing  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  humanity.  No  other  idea  possessed 
my  mind.  I  was  willing  to  preach  any- 
where and  at  all  times  without  compen- 
sation. Only  give  me  an  audience  and  I 
was  ready  to  preach  with  all  my  might. 

With  this  single  motive  I  entered  upon 
the  work  of  preparation  for  the  min- 
istry, and  although  my  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  neglected,  yet  I  possessed 
perhaps  as  good  an  education  as  the  ma- 
jority of  our  ministers  at  that  time. 

I  understood  the  common  English 
branches,  had  studied  Latin  one  year, 
and  was,  indeed,  competent  to  teach  any 
of  the  common  schools  in  the  state,  had 
written  a  few  lectures  and  spoken  fre- 
quently in  the  Lyceum.  My  general 
reading  was  limited,  yet  I  had  a  very 
ready  command  of  language  and  could 


16 


NATHANIEL  GUNNISON 
(From  a  painting  now  in  posession  of  Foster  N  Gunnison) 


manage  a  debate  with  some  degree  of 
success. 

My  reading  commenced  under  the  di- 
rection of  Balch,  with  Smith  on  Divine 
Government,  then  Paley's  Natural  The- 
ology, Evidences  of  Christianity,  and  so 
on. 

The  reading  was  accompanied  by  ser- 
mon writing.  In  a  very  few  weeks  I 
finished  a  sermon  upon  the  text:  "And 
thou  shalt  call  His  name  Jesus,  for  He 
shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins," 
which  sermon  I  never  preached. 

My  second  sermon  was  from  the  text: 
"Prove  all  things."  My  third  was  from 
the  text:  "The  way  of  the  transgressor  is 
hard."  When  these  two  sermons  were 
finished  I  commenced  preaching.  My  first 
sermon  was  delivered  in  the  South  Meet- 
ing House  in  Wendell  to  a  large  congre- 
gation. 

My  friends  from  Goshen,  Wendell  and 
Newport  all  flocked  to  hear  me  make 
my  debut.  Even  the  stage  from  Newport 
came  loaded  clown  with  my  early  asso- 
ciates to  hear  me.  I  felt,  of  course,  very 
much  embarrassed,  especially  so  when  I 
saw  in  the  crowd  my  tutor,  Rev.  Mr. 
Balch.  But  the  God  that  had  called  me 
to  the  work  nerved  me  to  its  perform- 
ance. I  arose  and  with  a  distinct  voice 
read  the  Scriptures  and  a  hymn,  which 
was  sung,  and  then  came  the  prayer, 
which  was  nearly  extemporaneous.  I 
had  never  formed  in  my  mind  even 
the  form  of  a  prayer,  but  always  de- 
pended upon  the  inspiration  of  the  mo- 
ment to  dictate  the  form  and  the  words. 
I  have  never  departed  from  that  course. 
My  prayers  have  always  been  spontan- 
eous and  hence  sometimes  very  appropri- 
ate, and  then  again  at  times  cold  and 
undevotional,  always  corresponding  with 
my  own  feelings. 

On  this  occasion  of  my  first  sermon  I 
prayed  in  the  spirit  and  felt  no  trembling 
afterward.  I  read  the  second  hymn  and 
then  delivered  my  sermon  to  an  attentive 
audience,  from  the  words,  "Prove  all 
things,"  etc. 

My  work  now  was  fairly  begun.  I  re- 
turned home  rejoicing  in  spirit  that  I 
was  a  laborer  in  the  great  vineyard  of 


the  Master,  and  felt  more  than  confident 
that  I  could  meet  the  enemies  of  truth 
and  put  them  all  to  flight.  I  felt  almost 
inspired  and  anxious  to  be  at  work  as 
soon  as  possible.  During  the  months  of 
August,  September  and  October  I 
preached  in  Wendell,  Walpole,  Acworth 
and  Rockingham,  Vt.,  nearly  every  Sab- 
bath and  in  November  went  to  Massa- 
chusetts in  search  of  a  settlement. 

I  spent  the  first  Sunday  in  Quincy,  and 
preached  to  a  very  large  and  attentive 
congregation. 

The  committee  spoke  very  flatteringly 
to  me  and  wished  to  engage  me  to  be- 
come their  pastor,  but  I  felt  my  want 
of  preparation  and  lack  of  ability  to  feed 
so  large  a  congregation,  and  so  I  passed 
on  toward  Cape  Cod. 

I  arrived  in  Brewster  early  in  the  week 
and  called  upon  Brother  George  Hig- 
gins,  who  received  me  kindly  and  cir- 
culated a  notice  for  me  to  preach  on  the 
next  Sunday  in  Brewster  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday  in  North  Dennis. 

I  preached,  of  course,  as  a  candidate. 
My  services  were  acceptable  and  1  re- 
ceived the  entire  vote  of  the  society  to 
become  the  pastor  of  the  three  societies 
of  Brewster,  North  Dennis  and  South 
Dennis. 

The  invitation  was  at  once  accepted 
and  I  returned  to  Newport  to  settle  up 
affairs  and  repair  to  my  field  of  future 
labors. 

It  was  late  in  the  fall  of  1837  when  I 
returned  to  Brewster  and  commeuced 
my  labors  as  the  pastor  of  the  three  so- 
cieties before  named. 

The  people  were  very  friendly  and  in- 
dulgent. I  was  inexperienced  and  poorly 
prepared  for  the  duties  before  me.  My 
whole  stock  of  sermons  consisted  of  just 
six  manuscripts. 

My  first  Sunday  in  Brewster  as  a  can- 
didate was  the  first  Sunday  in  October, 
1837. 

I  was  ordained  on  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1837.  Sermon  by  J.  M.  Spear,  E. 
Vose,  J.  N.  Parker  and  George  Hastings 
taking  part  in  the  services. 

The  occasion  was  one  of  hope  to  both 
minister  and  people.     The  congregation 


17 


was  large  and  the  services  solemn  and 
interesting.  The  ordaining  council  dined 
with  our  father  in  Israel,  General  Elijah 
Cobb,  with  whom  I  boarded,  one  of  the 
best  men  that  ever  lived.  His  heart  was 
as  big  as  the  universe.  He  lived  and 
died  a  Universalist. 

I  continued  preaching  one-half  of  the 
time  in  Brewster  and  one-quarter  in  each 
of  the  Dennises  for  one  year  and  six 
months. 

Early  in  my  pastorate  I  married  one 
of  the  fair  members  of  my  congregation 
in  Brewster,  feeling  that  it  was  not  good 
to  be  alone. 

After  due  deliberation  and  earnest  seek- 
ing for  Divine  direction  I  addressed  a 
note  to  Miss  Ann  Louisa  Foster,  who,  I 
thought,  might  perhaps  respond  favor- 
ably to  my  proposition. 

In  this  I  was  not  disappointed  and  after 
all  the  preliminaries  were  settled  and  the 
usual  amount  of  billing  and  cooing,  we 
were  united  in  solemn  wedlock  by  Rev. 
George  Hastings  on  the  12th  of  August, 
1S38. 

P^or  a  few  weeks  we  boarded  with 
General  Cobb,  made  our  bridal  tour  to 
New  Hampshire,  visited  our  friends  and 
returned  to  our  field  of  labor  and  com- 
menced keeping  house  in  an  old  shat- 
tered tenement  with  three  cold  rooms  in 
it  and  situated  far  back  from  the  road, 
where  for  six  mortal  months  we  en- 
dured cold  and  privation  such  as  few 
poor  ministers  ever  endured  before.  Yet 
we  complained  not,  for  we  felt  ourselves 
the  servants  of  Him  who  had  not  where 
to  lay  His  head. 

Here  we  stayed,  not  lived,  till  spring. 
We  burned  green  wood  and  dined  upon 
cold  potatoes  and  smoked  herring. 

I  knew  during  these  cold  months  all 
that  the  poorest  know  of  privation  and 
cold,  and  had  it  not  been  for  our  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  in  which  we  were  en- 
gaged we  should  have  fainted  many 
times,  but  the  Lord  sustained  us  and 
by  severe  trial  prepared  us  to  sympathize 
with  the  poor  and  feel  for  suffering  hu- 
manity. 

In  the  spring  of  1838  we  moved  into 
another  and   more  convenient  tenement 


and  were  in  fair  prospects  for  a  com- 
fortable living  when  I  received  a  call 
from  Provincetown  to  become  teacher  in 
the  Academy  and  preach  one-quarter  of 
the  time  at  a  salary  of  $450,  $50  more 
than  I  was  receiving  at  Brewster. 

After  due  deliberation  and  consultation 
with  my  friends,  I  accepted  the  call  and 
prepared  to  move  to  the  new  place  of 
labor. 

Brother  J.  B.  Dodds  was  the  pastor  at 
Provincetown.  He  had  a  large  and 
wealthy  congregation  and  upon  his  hands 
a  very  flourishing  school. 

To  this  congregation  I  was  to  preach 
thirteen  Sabbaths  and  of  this  large  school 
1  was  to  become  the  principal  during 
the  summer  and  assistant  during  the 
winter,  for  the  sum  of  $450.  The  other 
thirty-nine  Sundays  belonged  to  me  and 
I  was  at  liberty  to  go  to  Truro  and  Wel- 
fleet,  or  where  else  I  pleased  to  preach. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1839  that  we 
moved  to  Provincetown  and  I  was  imme- 
diately installed  as  principal  of  the  Union 
Academy. 

I  remained  in  Provincetown  one  year 
and  in  many  respects  it  was  a  very  pleas- 
ant year.  My  Sabbaths,  many  of  them, 
were  spent  in  Truro  and  Welfleet.  Our 
school  was  a  flourishing  one  and  the 
people  fully  sustained  us  in  our  arduous 
labors. 

The  Methodists  were  insolent  and  abu- 
sive and  did  all  in  their  power  to  bring 
us  into  disrepute  and  break  up  our  school, 
but  their  efforts  only  resulted  in  build- 
ing up  a  large  congregation  of  Uuiver- 
salists. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  the  Univer- 
salists  of  the  Cape  held  a  public  confer- 
ence in  the  Town  of  Eastham,  during  the 
week  on  which  the  Methodists  held  their 
annual  camp  meeting  and  very  near  their 
grounds. 

For  years  the  Methodists  had  abused 
and  insulted  the  Universalists  and  tra- 
duced their  characters  most  wickedly,  and 
to  put  a  stop  to  this  wholesale  abuse 
the  i)i i nist ers  resolved  to  meet  the  Meth- 
odists and  challenge  them  to  a  discussion 
of  the  doctrines  upon  which  the  two 
bodies  differed. 


18 


Accordingly  we  met,  organized  and 
challenged  the  hosts  of  partialism  to 
select  from  their  ranks  a  chieftain  to 
meet  one  that  we  should  choose  and  let 
the  two  discuss  the  subject  and  let  the 
people  decide  the  question  as  to  the  rela- 
tive truth  of  Methodism  and  Universal- 
ism. 

But  they  accepted  not  the  challenge  and 
for  six  days  we  continued  our  meetings 
and  hundreds  for  the  first  time  in  their 
lives  heard  the  glad  tidings  of  universal 
redemption  preached. 

The  Methodists  made  no  converts  this 
year  and  before  the  meeting  closed  they 
sued  for  peace,  promising  us  that  if  we 
would  not  repeat  our  meetings  another 
year  they  would  no  more  traduce  and 
insult  Universalists,  which  promise  I  be- 
lieve they  kept  faithfully  for  many 
years. 

In  March  of  this  year,  1840,  I  received 
an  invitation  to  visit  the  new  City  of 
Manchester,  N.  H.  I  accepted  the  invi- 
tation and  preached  in  their  new  church 
the  first  Sunday  after  it  was  dedicated. 
The  people  seemed  pleased  with  my  serv- 
ices and  extended  to  me  an  invitation  to 
become  their  pastor,  at  a  salary  of  $700, 
which  was  accepted  and  hither  I  moved 
my  family  and  commenced  the  work  to 
which  I  had  been  called. 

This  society  Avas  at  this  time  composed 
of  a  confused  mass  of  material.  The  vil- 
lage had  sprung  up  in  a  year,  and 
strangers  had  gathered  together  from  all 
parts  of  New  England.  A  spacious 
church  was  built  by  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany aud  the  pews  were  rented  by  public 
auction,  and  all  creeds  and  no  creed 
came  in  and  made  up  a  congregation. 

Over  this  strange  mass  of  antagonistic 
principles  I  was  installed  pastor  and  for 
a  time  everything  seemed  to  progress 
harmoniously.  A  Sunday  school,  Bible 
class,  Institute,  sewing  circle  and  church 
were  organized  and  seemed  to  flourish. 
But  one  member  of  the  committee  was 
by  birth  and  education  an  aristocrat. 
He  wished  to  shut  out  the  factory  and 
servant  girls  from  the  social  gatherings 
of  the  society  and  became  very  mucn  op- 
posed to  me  because  I  would  not  second 


his  efforts  to  exclude  this  class  of  the 
congregation.  He  got  the  willing  ear  of 
the  treasurer  of  the  society  and  made  a 
tool  of  him  to  accomplish  his  wicked  pur- 
pose of  driving  me  from  the  society. 

He  wrote  me  a  letter  preferring  charges 
against  me,  first,  for  receiving  two  young 
men  into  my  study,  as  candidates  for  the 
ministry;  second,  for  introducing  two 
other  students  into  the  pulpit  to  preach 
for  me,  etc. 

These  were  the  sins  I  had  committed 
and  for  these  imprudences  he  proposed 
that  I  leave  the  society. 

I  called  a  meeting  of  the  society.  A 
large  meeting  assembled,  and  with  with- 
ering rebukes  denounced  the  action  of 
the  chairman  of  their  committee  and  al- 
most unanimously  voted  for  me  to  con- 
tinue in  the  office  of  pastor. 

For  three  months  I  continued,  but  the 
opposition  of  my  three  enemies  was  so 
determined  and  insiduous  that  I  finally 
resigned  the  office  of  pastor  and  closed 
my  labors  with  a  society  that  was  almost 
unanimous  in  my  favor.  The  leader  of 
this  opposition  was  Stephen  Gilman,  a 
proud,  self-sufficient  man,  and  as  poor 
as  poverty  itself.  He  soon  sunk  out  of 
sight  and  in  ten  years  not  so  much  as 
his  abiding  place  could  be  discovered. 
He  evaporated  so  far  as  society  is  con- 
cerned. His  tool  and  accomplice  Avas 
Isa  Ballow,  a  man  of  some  little  property, 
but  an  ignorant,  proud  man,  and  his 
wife  of  great  consequence  in  her  own 
estimation.  She  came  from  a  low  stock 
and  a  little  position  in  society  destroyed 
her.  This  ignorant  family  made  trouble 
for  my  successor,  Rev.  G.  W.  Gage. 

Ballow  finally  became  so  very  unpopu- 
lar in  Manchester  that  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  place.  He  returned  to  Boston, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  had 
much  trouble  and  affliction  from  the  per- 
verse conduct  of  his  children. 

A  few  years  after  this  Ballow  visited 
me,  acknowledged  his  errors  in  persecut- 
ing me,  threw  all  the  blame  upon  the 
back  of  his  accomplice,  Gilman,  wished 
me  to  forgive  him,  etc.,  etc. 

On  the  4th  of  April  of  this  year,  our 
eldest   son,    N,    was   born    in    Province- 


19 


town,  Mass.,  while  I  was  preaching 
in  Manchester  and  boarding  with  this 
same  Ira  Ballow. 

My  congregations  in  Manchester  were 
uniformly  large  and  had  it  not  been  for 
this  proud,  vain  man,  Gilman,  I  might 
have  remained  there  many  years. 

The  society  wished  me  installed  as  pas- 
tor of  the  society  and  church,  and  on 
the  28th  of  May  this  service  was  per- 
formed. 

Father  Ballou  preached  the  sermon 
and  gave  the  charge  and  Scriptures;  in- 
stalling prayer  by  N.  R.  Wright;  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship,  L.  C.  Brown;  ad- 
dress to  the  society,  J.  P.  Atkinson. 

The  Merrimack  River  Association  met 
at  the  same  time  and  place. 

In  March,  1841;  I  sold  off  my  furniture 
in  Manchester  and  started  out  to  look 
up  another  location.  Wife  bid  adieu  to 
her  friends  and  we  started  early  in  the 
morning  in  a  sleigh  for  Medford,  Mass., 
where  her  brother  David  resided. 

Then  I  left  her  with  my  two  children, 
Marilla  and  N,  to  pay  a  visit  and 
then  go  to  the  Cape  and  spend  a  few 
weeks,  while  I  hunted  up  another  loca- 
tion. I  returned  to  Manchester,  remained 
a  few  days  and  then  started  in  a  sleigh 
for  Hallowed,  Me. 

The  first  Sunday  in  March  I  spent  in 
Denmark,  Me.,  and  preached  half  a  day 
for  Brother  Tenney. 

The  second  Sunday  I  spent  in  Hallo- 
well.  The  society  in  the  place  was  small 
and  worshiped  in  the  Town  Hall.  I 
found  Brother  Collins  here,  teaching 
school  and  preaching  on  Sundays,  and 
expecting  to  continue  and  become  pastor 
of  the  society.  He  preached  in  the  morn- 
ing and  invited  me  to  occupy  the  desk 
in  the  afternoon.  I  accepted  and  gave 
an  extemporaneous  sermon  from  the 
text,  Job  xxii:22:  "Acquaint  now  thyself 
with  Him  and  be  at  peace." 

I  remained  in  Hallowed  a  few  Sundays 
and  found  most  excellent  friends  in 
Brother  Joseph  Metcalf,  Isaiah  McLinch, 
Austin  Blake  and  others. 

Brother  Collins  concluded  not  to  settle 
with  them  and  the  invitation  was  extend- 
ed to  me  at  a  salary  of  $400,  which  I  ac- 


cepted and  returned  to  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  to  meet  a  few  appointments 
there  and  then  return  to  my  new  charge. 
During  the  preceding  winter,  from 
December  to  March,  I  had  traveled  ex- 
tensively through  the  north  part  of  the 
state  in  company  with  Brother  J.  P.  At- 
kinson and  preached  and  sold  books  and 
obtained  subscribers  to  the  Star  of  Beth- 
lehem, a  paper  published  in  Lowell  by 
A.  G.  Bagley.  We  met  with  good  suc- 
cess and  became  extensively  acquainted 
with  the  scattered  Universalists  all  over 
the  north  part  of  the  state. 

I  returned  to  Hallowed  and  commenced 
my  ministry  there  on  the  28th  of  March, 
1841. 

Here  I  labored  with  all  my  might, 
preaching  every  Sunday  to  this  people, 
and  to  eke  out  a  poor  living,  I  lectured 
in  all  the  surrounding  country.  There 
was  scarcely  a  neighborhood  within 
twenty  miles  that  I  did  not  visit  and 
preach  and  by  this  extra  effort  I  made 
a  decent  living. 

The  first  year  of  my  residence  in  Hal- 
lowed I  boarded  with  Mr.  Jacob  Leavit 
at  $4  per  week,  just  one-half  my  salary. 
During  the  spring  of  1842  there  was  a 
great  revival  in  the  City  of  Gardiner. 
The  Methodists  held  a  protracted  meet- 
ing of  many  weeks  and  finally,  to  clinch 
their  converts,  sent  for  William  Miller, 
the  end  of  the  world  prophet.  He  could 
not  respond  to  the  call  in  person  and 
therefore  sent  one  Spaulding  to  frighten 
the  poor  converts  into  the  church.  I  at- 
tended his  lectures  and  replied  to  them 
in  the  Town  Hall.  Much  excitement  was 
the  result.  Everybody  was  anxious  to 
hear  my  reviews  and  much  good  was 
done  by  them. 

After  the  lectures  we  held  a  meeting 
for  fourteen  evenings  in  succession,  and 
about  forty  renounced  partialism  and 
came  over  to  our  side  of  the  question. 
A  plan  was  put  in  operation  for  a  meet- 
ing house  in  Gardiner,  the  money  raised 
and  the  house  built,  and  a  large  society 
was  formed  and  continues  to  this  day. 

I  preached  here  at  first  Sunday  even- 
ings only  and  then  one-half  of  the  Sun- 


20 


days  and  finally  all  the  Sundays  till  some 
time  after  the  house  was  dedicated.  Rev. 
J.  P.  Weston  was  finally  settled  as  pas- 
tor. 

At  the  same  time  I  kept  the  pulpit  at 
Hallowell  supplied  every  Sunday  and  a 
church  was  going  up.  Brother  J.  L. 
Straus  studied  with  me  one  year  and  by 
exchanges  through  him  I  managed  to 
keep  both  pulpits  supplied. 

The  houses  at  Gardiner  and  Hallowell 
were  both  dedicated  during  the  spring 
of  1844.  I  had  labored  in  Hallowell 
nearly  four  years  wheu  the  church  was 
completed  and  I  was  installed  as  pastor. 
Brother  Calvin  Gardiner  preached  the 
sermon  of  installation.  The  dedicatory 
sermon  I  preached  myself. 

These  were  years  of  hard  toil  and  much 
sacrifice.  We  worked  hard  and  lived, 
or  rather  stayed.  My  salary  was  not 
enough  to  give  us  a  decent  support,  and, 
beside,  we  were  full  of  company  nearly 
all  the  time,  frequently  all  our  beds  full. 
Hallowell  being  the  head  of  steamboat 
navigation  and  my  acquaintance  with 
Universalists  being  extensive,  we  could 
not  avoid  a  press  of  company,  for  min- 
isters and  laymen  from  the  country  must 
necessarily  pass  through  Hallowell  on 
their  way  to  Boston,  and  my  house  was 
a  convenient  stopping  place  for  them. 
We  were  always  glad  to  see  them  and 
happy  to  entertain  them,  but  so  much 
company  kept  us  poor  and  in  debt  all 
the  time. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  kind  consider- 
ation of  our  friends  in  giving  us  occas- 
ionally a  donation  visit  we  must  have 
been  very  poor  indeed.  While  we  re- 
sided in  Hallowell  we  had  three  of  these 
parties,  leaving  with  us  from  $50  to  $194, 
which,  with  my  small  salary,  kept  us 
above  actual  poverty. 

And  yet  those  were  happy  years  to  us. 
We  worked  hard,  had  good  friends  and 
tried  to  be  faithful  in  our  calling.  Our 
congregations  were  always  respectable 
and  our  position  a  good  one.  We  had 
good  neighbors  and  lived  in  a  good  neigh- 
borhood with  our  surrounding  brethren. 
After  about  four  years  of  hard  labor 
with  this  society,   finding  it  almost  im- 


possible to  live  upon  the  stipulated  sal- 
ary, poorly  paid,  I  resigned  the  pastorate 
of  the  society  and  resolved  to  travel  and 
preach  as  a  self-appointed  missionary. 
Accordingly  in  the  spring  of  1845  I  sent 
in  my  letter  of  resignation  to  take  effect 
immediately.  I  had  become  worn  out 
and  needed  rest.  For  the  past  two  years 
I  had  taught  a  large  school  four  months 
each  winter,  preached  every  Sunday  and 
traveled  much  to  lecture,  attend  funerals, 
etc. 

As  soon  as  it  was  announced  that  I 
had  resigned  and  was  ready  to  go  where 
called,  I  received  any  number  of  calls 
to  preach  in  the  vicinity  round  about. 
I  soon  engaged  to  preach  in  Sidney,  West 
Waterville,  East  Vasselboro,  Readfield, 
Winthrop,  and  for  five  years  I  pursued 
this  course  of  life,  frequently  having  six 
or  eight  pulpits  to  supply  once  or  twice 
a  month.  In  fact,  I  became  the  general 
agent  for  nearly  all  the  country  societies 
and  not  infrequently  did  I  have  appoint- 
ments for  every  evening  in  the  week, 
such  was  the  call  for  my  services. 

In  addition  to  this  laborious  travel  as 
a  preacher,  I  lectured  on  temperance,  Odd 
Fellowship,  and  traveled  as  far  east  as 
New  Brunswick,  lecturing  every  even- 
ing for  six  weeks  before  the  divisions  of 
the  Sons  of  Temperance. 

During  the  five  years  of  my  missionary 
labor  in  Maine,  I  preached  in  more  than 
one  hundred  different  places  and  uni- 
formly found  good  friends  and  attentive 
audiences. 

Finally  I  became  tired  of  this  kind  of 
labor  and  resolved  to  seek  a  settlement 
as  pastor  of  one  society.  And  early  in 
the  spring  of  1850  I  signified  my  wish 
to  Brother  George  W.  Quinby  of  Taunton, 
Mass.,  who  at  once  secured  appointments 
for  me  to  preach  two  Sundays  in  Abing- 
ton  and  two  in  Fall  River,  as  a  candi- 
date. 

I  met  the  appointments  and  received 
a  call  from  each  place  at  a  salary  of  $600 
from  Abington  and  $700  from  Fall  River. 
I  preferred  Fall  River,  but  committed 
myself  at  Abington  in  case  they  would 
raise  $600,  which  they  did,  and  notified 
me  accordingly. 


21 


This  was  a  trying  time  to  me.  I  wished 
to  go  to  one  place  and  was  committed  to 
another,  and  when  I  returned  to  Hallo- 
well  for  my  family  I  met  with  auother 
difficulty.  The  friends  there  gathered 
around  me  and  with  tears  in  their  eyes 
besought  me  to  remain  with  them,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  the  decision  of  my 
wife  I  should  have  remained  with  them 
on  such  a  poor  pittance  as  they  could 
afford  to  pay.  But  the  good  councils  of 
my  wife  prevailed  and  we  left  the  beau- 
tiful shores  of  the  Kennebec,  where  we 
had  spent  so  many  happy  yet  laborious 
years. 

In  addition  to  preaching  and  lecturing 
I  taught  school  four  months  per  year 
for  three  years,  posted  books  and  did  a 
little  of  almost  everything  to  support  my 
family.  That  this  hard  labor  impaired 
my  usefulness  as  a  preacher  I  know  full 
well.  I  could  not  give  my  attention  to 
study  as  I  desired  to,  and  hence  I  have 
always  been  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  toiling 
to  rise  to  its  summit  of  usefulness.  What 
little  I  have  accomplished  as  a  preacher 
has  been  done  by  dint  of  effort  under  the 
most  discouraging  prospects.  I  feel  to 
thank  God  and  take  courage.  He  has 
kept  my  soul  honest  and  not  yet  allowed 
me  to  deviate  a  hair  from  the  principles 
of  strict  honesty.  I  have  been  able  to 
pay  my  debts  and  have  a  few  hundred 
dollars  to  spare,  but  have  always  prac- 
ticed the  most  rigid  economy. 

It  has  always  been  a  trial  to  me  to  be 
in  debt.  I  have  always  feared  to  owe 
any  man  a  dollar.  It  has  always  given 
me  a  great  deal  of  unhappiness  to  be  in 
debt.  I  am  not  afraid  of  poverty,  but 
I  am  afraid  of  debts.  I  think  I  should 
starve  rather  than  to  owe  a  man  for  a 
crust  of  bread,  knowing  that  I  had  not 
the  means  of  paying  him.  While  I  know 
I  have  the  means  of  paying  all  my  debts 
I  am  not  so  particular  about  a  few  debts 
and  am  often  found  with  a  bill  against 


me.  But  never  do  I  ask  a  credit  unless 
I  know  where  the  pay  is  coming  from. 

I  feel  that  I  have  thus  far  been  just  as 
honest  in  my  preaching  as  I  have  been 
in  my  pecuniary  matters.  I  never 
preached  a  word  that  I  did  not  believe 
to  be  the  truth.  I  can  say  with  Henry 
Beecher  that  I  never  preached  an  in- 
sincere word  in  my  life.  This  I  know 
is  saying  a  great  deal,  but  I  say  it  know- 
ing that  it  is  true. 

And  I  may  add  another  word  for  my 
children  to  read  when  I  am  no  more 
with  them.  I  have  always  been  honest 
with  respect  to  engagements  writh  so- 
cieties. I  have  always  fulfilled  my  ob- 
ligations to  the  very  letter.  Many  have 
been  the  times  when  I  could  have  im- 
proved my  condition  by  leaving  societies 
before  my  engagements  were  up,  also  in 
settling,  often  have  I  had  opportunities 
to  find  an  apology  for  an  implied  prom- 
ise, and  listen  to  a  louder  call,  but  I 
have  not  done  so,  although,  by  not  doing 
so,  I  have  impoverished  myself  and  fam- 
ily. 

These  things  I  mention  not  boastingly. 
for  the  Lord  knows  I  have  nothing  to 
boast  of;  for  while  I  have  been  honest 
in  all  my  doings,  I  have  sinned  perhaps 
widely  in  other  directions.  But  dishon- 
esty is  not  my  besetting  sin.  I  never 
wronged  a  person  knowingly  out  of  one 
farthing.    I  say  this  before  high  Heaven! 

Well,  to  return  to  my  narrative.  In 
the  month  of  April,  1850,  we  bid  adieu 
to  our  friends  in  Maine  and  came  to 
Boston  and  soon  settled  down  in  the 
pleasant  Town  of  Abington,  Mass.,  at 
a  salary  of  $600. 

For  our  history  in  this  place  I  will  re- 
fer my  children  to  my  scrapbook,  which 
contains  sundry  letters  from  myself  and 
Brother  Drew;  also  to  my  yearly  diaries, 
etc. 

(Note — The  scrapbook  referred  to  was 
lost  soon  after  father  died.— H.  F.  G.) 


22 


Extracts  from  the  Diaries  of  IRatbanlel  (Bunnieon 


Bbtngton,  /IDass.,  1852. 


January  1— This  has  been  a  busy  day  to 
me  and  its  labors  are  an  indication  of 
the  labors  which  are  to  follow  through 
the  year.  My  desire  is  that  I  may  be 
faithful  to  all  my  duties. 

January  5— Read  speeches  of  Kossuth 
in  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore.  I  find 
myself  deeply  interested  in  this  man  and 
in  the  cause  of  humanity  which  he  rep- 
resents. 

February  14— This  is  my  birthday.  Can 
it  be  that  I  am  so  old?  Why,  I  used  to 
think  that  forty  years  carried  a  man  a 
long  way  toward  old  age.  And  yet  I 
am  40  and  do  not  feel  old  yet.  My 
prayer  to  God  is  that  I  may  spend  the 
remaining  years  of  my  life  to  some  good 
account,  so  that  when  the  sands  of  my 
life  are  all  run  out,  my  children  may 
have  occasion  to  speak  reverently  of  me 
and  my  neighbors  say  one  to  another, 
"A  good  man  is  gone  from  us."  The 
hope  of  the  Gospel  are  strong  in  my 
soul.  My  faith  grows  brighter  as  years 
roll  away. 

March  5— Boys  have  gone  out  ou  a 
speculation,  selling  lozenges.  Boys  re- 
turned. N  sold  10  cents  worth,  Almon 
22.  N  went  no  further  than  I  gave  him 
liberty  to.  Almon  did.  One  minded; 
the  other  did  not.  Obedience  is  better 
than  speculation. 

May  5— This  morniug  at  3  o'clock  we 
were  presented  with  a  fine  little  fellow, 
and  our  third  son.     (Walter  Balfour.) 

(Note— Walter  has  always  regarded  his 
birthday  at  May  2.  The  family  Bible 
gives  the  date  as  May  2.) 

May  19— Worked  all  day  hard  in  our 


garden  and  about  the  premises.  I  am 
about  tired  of  filling  up  for  others.  I 
shall  just  get  things  fairly  under  way,  so 
as  to  look  attractive,  and  then  move 
away  and  leave  it  all.  I  am  not  well 
pleased  with  the  instability  of  the  min- 
ister. Yet  I  love  to  preach;  could  not  get 
along  without  preaching;  must  preach. 
The  world  needs  the  Gospel  and  must 
have  it  and  why  should  not  I  be  willing 
to  bear  my  portion  of  the  burden  and 
heat  of  the  day. 

CHAPLAIN  TO  THE  ARTILLERY. 

August  25— Attended  the  general  mus- 
ter as  chaplain  to  the  artillery.  Officiated 
in  the  morning  on  the  field  and  at  the 
table  at  noon.  My  opinion  is  not  changed 
as  to  such  gatherings.  I  believe  they  are 
injurious.  Yet  under  the  present  siate 
of  things,  perhaps,  are  necessary.  I  have 
learned  that  the  world  is  not  to  be  con- 
verted at  once.  Society  is  progressive 
and  it  will  take  time  to  do  away  with 
the  occasions  for  war. 

August  26— On  the  field  of  military 
drill  again  to-day.  Did  not  officiate  on 
the  field;  at  the  table  only.  Dined  with 
the  officers  and  returned  home  at  the 
earliest  convenience.  Thus  for  three 
years  I  have  officiated  as  chaplain.  I 
have  some  misgivings  about  it,  but  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  to  reform 
society  we  must  go  down  into  it  and  see 
what  it  is  made  of;  we  must  be  acquaint- 
ed with  man  as  he  is. 

August  29— Mr.  Nash  gave  me  quite  a 
lecture  for  doing  military  duty  as  chap- 
lain. I  defended  myself  as  well  as  I 
could,  yet  I  must  acknowledge  that  it  is 


23 


a  little  inconsistent  for  a  peace  man  to 
countenance  military  tactics.  I  think 
I  will  resign. 

SUMMARY   OF   THE   YEAR. 

Preached  120  sermons,  attended  2  state 
conventions  and  one  association,  presided 
at  one  convention  and  one  association, 
lectured  before  four  lyceums,  attended 
eighteen  funerals  and  nine  weddings  and 
one  installation  and  one  ordination.  I 
have  performed  the  services  of  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Ceme- 
tery, which  has  occupied  much  of  my 
lime,  and  for  which  I  have  received  $50. 

Our  little  Walter,  who  has  come  to 
live  with  us  during  the  past  year,  is  a 
treasure  of  comfort  and  promises  much 
for  the  future.  May  his  life  be  spared 
and  his  health  preserved  with  us  that  his 
years  may  be  many  and  useful. 

Hbinaton,  /IDass.,  1853. 

The  society  in  Abington,  of  which  I 
have  been  the  pastor,  was  very  unfor- 
tunate in  the  choice  of  its  committee  in 
appointing  men  who  were  inefficient  and 
let  the  society  neglect  to  pay  their  pas- 
tor. In  August  notice  was  given  that 
the  meeting  house  would  be  closed  a 
few  weeks  for  repairs.  After  waiting 
some  few  weeks  and  not  seeing  the  re- 
pairs going  on  nor  receiving  my  pay  for 
the  last  six  months,  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  upon  the  whole  I  had  better 
send  in  my  resignation  and  seek  a  settle- 
ment in  some  other  place,  and  accord- 
ingly on  the  21st  of  September  sent  in 
my  request  for  a  discharge  from  the 
society,  giving  as  the  only  reason  "A 
want  of  promptness  on  the  part  of  the 
society  in  meeting  its  pecuniary  obliga- 
tions." It  required  much  effort  on  my 
part  to  take  this  stand.  I  am  opposed 
to  frequent  removals.  It  is  injurious  to 
both  minister  and  people  and  the  ties 
ought  not  to  be  broken  for  trifling  causes. 
But  with  a  large  and  expensive  family  on 
my  hands,  what  could  I  do,  depending  en- 
tirely on  my  salary  and  not  receiving 
one  cent  of  it.  So  I  was  compelled  to 
seek  employment  somewhere  else.     Some 


of  the  society  blamed  me  for  my  course, 
but  acknowledged  my  provocation.  After 
waiting  some  six  or  eight  weeks  the  com- 
mittee called  a  meeting  to  consider  my 
resignation  and  appointed  a  committee 
to  wait  upon  me  and  see  if  I  would  not 
consent  to  preach  till  spring,  when  my 
salary  should  be  put  upon  a  firm  basis.  I 
took  the  subject  into  consideration  and 
gave  answer  that  I  did  not  feel  it  best 
to  accept  their  proposition,  neither  for 
the  society  nor  for  myself,  and  recom- 
mended them  to  engage  a  young  man  for 
a  small  compensation.  They  agreed  to 
this  and  engaged  Brother  Silloway.  I 
new  felt  relieved  from  the  society  and 
entered  the  field  as  general  missionary, 
to  preach  when  and  where  a  door  seemed 
open. 

Methuen  being  destitute  of  a  pastor  I 
made  arrangements  to  preach  for  twelve 
Sabbaths  for  $100,  paying  my  own  ex- 
penses and  board. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  I  spent  four 
Sabbaths  in  North  Attleboro,  Mass.,  and 
received  a  call  to  settle  with  the  society 
at  $800,  but  my  society  in  Abington 
seemed  unwilling  for  me  to  leave  them 
and  so  I  was  prevailed  upon  to  refuse  so 
good  an  offer,  which  I  have  had  good 
reasons  to  regret  since.  I  now  feel  that 
1  ought  to  have  accepted  and  put  my 
family  in  a  more  comfortable  situation. 
I  now  find  depending  upon  me  for  sup- 
port, a  wife  in  delicate  health  and  five 
children,  and  a  salary  of  $600,  even  when 
promptly  paid,  insufficient  for  their  sup- 
port and  education,  and  yet  I  have  lis- 
tened to  the  petitions  of  friends  and  re- 
fused a  larger  salary  for  their  accommo 
dation. 

N,  my  eldest  son,  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life  left  home  for  a  few  weeks  to  at- 
tend the  school  of  Brother  Weston,  in 
Westbrook,  Me.  He  is  13  years  old.  N 
and  all  my  children  are  thus  far  a  com- 
fort to  me  and  willingly  do  I  labor  for 
them  that  they  may  be  prepared  and 
inclined  to  honor  their  parents  when  age 
shall  whiten  their  locks  and  palsy  their 
limbs. 

Among  other  duties,  I  have,  during  the 
past  year,   superintended  the  sales,   im- 


24 


proveraents,  etc.,  upon  Mount  Vernon 
Cemetery,  and  served  as  secretary  and 
treasurer,  a  most  arduous  and  respon- 
sible work.  This  cemetery  may  be  con- 
sidered as  the  result  of  my  own  individ- 
ual efforts.  It  comprises  forty  acres, 
most  beautifully  situated  and  bids  fair 
to  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful  cemeteries 
in  our  state.  It  has  occupied  much  of 
my  time  for  the  past  year.  I  own  I  feel 
proud  of  my  labors  in  this  direction  and 
trust  that  here  in  this  creation  of  my 
own  labors  my  dust  may  at  last  repose. 

Bbington  anfc  Hnntsquam, 
/IDass.,  1854 

During  the  year  past  I  have  preached 
in  three  places  as  pastor,  pro  tern.  I 
closed  an  engagement  of  thi*ee  months  at 
Methuen  on  the  19th  of  February.  Then 
I  re-engaged  in  Abington  for  a  few 
weeks;  commenced  February  26  and 
closed  April  9.  At  their  annual  meeting 
I  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
society  to  renew  the  engagement  per- 
manently, but  on  account  of  the  increas- 
ing expenses  of  my  family  I  felt  it  my 
duty  to  leave  them  for  a  more  retired 
location,  where,  with  an  increase  of  sal- 
ary, I  might  be  able  to  send  my  children 
to  school  Hence  I  declined  the  very 
pressing  invitation  to  remain  in  Abing- 
ton. While  in  Boston  seeking  an  ap- 
pointment for  a  few  Sabbaths,  I  received 
word  that  a  preacher  was  wanted  for  a 
Sabbath  at  Annisquam.  I  accepted  the 
offer  and  visited  this  rock-bound  coast 
for  the  first  time  in  the  second  Sabbath 
in  April.  To  my  surprise  this  society  I 
found  to  be  one  of  the  largest  in  our  de- 
nomination and  very  desirous  to  settle 
a  minister.  I  was  called  upon  by  Mr. 
Gustavus  Griffin  to  see  if  I  would  con- 
sent to  preach  as  a  candidate.  Con- 
sidering the  matter  a  few  moments  1 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  on  condition 
that  they  raise  me  a  living  salary  and 
pay  promptly.  This  they  readily  agreed 
to,  and  on  the  16th  of  April  I  preached 
again  and  received  the  invitation  to  be- 
come the  pastor  of  this  ancient  church. 
I  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  accept  until 


my  friends  in  Abington  nad  an  oppor- 
tunity to  look  about  and  see  what 
they  could  do.  On  the  23d  of  April 
I  preached  in  Canton,  Mass.,  as  a  candi- 
date. It  was  a  rainy  day  and  the  con- 
gregation small.  The  committee,  how- 
ever, extended  to  me  an  invitation  to 
preach  again  as  a  candidate  at  a  salary 
of  $700,  which  I  declined.  The  Abington 
society  failing  to  comply  with  my  con- 
ditions, lost  all  claim  upon  my  services, 
and  on  the  23d  of  May  I  packed  my 
goods  and  on  the  24th  started  with  my 
family  for  our  new  home  on  Cape  Ann. 

This  parish  numbers  about  200  fam- 
ilies; the  entire  population,  with  two  or 
three  exceptions,  are  Universalists.  The 
parish  was  organized  orthodox,  hut  near- 
ly forty  years  ago  their  minister,  Rev. 
Ezra  Leonard,  became  converted  to  the 
truth  of  the  doctrine  of  universal  salva- 
tion, and  brought  over  nearly  the  whole 
parish  with  him.  It  is  now  a  good,  sub- 
stantial society  and  bids  fair  to  live  and 
exert  its  influence  upon  the  surround- 
ing darkness.  One  great  inducement 
with  me  was  to  get  near  the  salt  water 
and  here  we  are  surrounded  by  the  ocean, 
and  all  the  family  are  in  the  enjoyment 
of  good  health. 

This  year  I  have  attended,  as  usual, 
our  denominational  associations  and  was 
elected  to  preach  the  occasional  sermon 
before  the  convention  in  1855. 

During  the  month  of  August  we  opened 
our  house  to  such  of  our  city  friends  as 
wished  to  visit  us.  Our  house  was  full 
for  about  eight  weeks.  Brother  A.  G. 
Laurie  and  family,  Brother  Pebeeles  of 
New  York  and  Cousin  Oliver  and  daugh- 
ter spent  the  month  with  us,  and  all 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  sea  bathing  very 
much.  Among  my  visitors  were  Rev.  E. 
H.  Chapin,  Thomas  Starr  King  and  Dr. 
Nye. 

Hnnfsquam,  /IDass.,  1855 

July  13— Started  this  day  for  Cape  Cod 
with  my  whole  family.  At  Boston  Uncle 
David  and  family  joined  us.  We  went 
on  in  company  and  arrived  at  Brewster 
about  8  o'clock  and  met  all  the  family  at 


25 


Uncle  Tully's,  except  Phoebe  and  her 
family. 

July  14— This  morning  we  commenced 
spreading  the  table  outdoors  under  au 
awning.  At  1  o'clock  we  sat  down  to 
the  number  of  forty-two.  We  partook 
of  the  dinner,  after  which  speeches  were 
made  by  Brothers  Bradley  and  Gunni- 
son. 

August  11— We  now  have  thirteen 
boarders  paying  us  $40  per  week. 


I  have  preached  this  year  in  all  seventy- 
nine  sermons.  I  have  attended  our  as- 
sociation and  our  state  convention,  be- 
fore which  I  preached  the  occasional  ser- 
mon. I  have,  during  the  year,  attended 
five  weddings  and  eleven  funerals  and 
lectured  before  our  lyceum.  I  have  also 
served  on  the  school  committee  and  at- 
tended to  all  the  duties  devolving  upon 
me  in  said  office. 

Bnntsquam,  ZlDass.,  1856 

Have  preached  during  the  year  eighty- 
six  sermons  in  fourteen  different  pulpits 
and  three  states.  Preached  as  a  candi- 
date at  Middletown,  but  did  not  receive  a 
call,  because  they  thought  I  favored  the 
election  of  Fremont  to  rebuke  the  admin- 
istration. I  slightly  advocated  temper- 
ance and  freedom,  which  did  not  please 
the  old  Hunkers  of  that  Hunker  city  and 
hence  I  was  allowed  to  go  home  in  peace. 

Spent  two  Sundays  in  Chicopee  and  re- 
ceived a  call  to  settle  with  them.  Put 
my  terms  at  $S()0.  My  friends  made  an 
effort  to  raise  the  money  and  failed,  rais- 
ing only  $700,  which  I  did  not  feel  free 
to  accept.  Also  received  a  call  to  go  to 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  which  call  I  am, 
on  this  last  day  of  December,  considering. 
Halifax  is  an  important  location  and  I 
feel  greatly  inclined  to  make  a  visit  to 
see  for  myself  what  kind  of  a  place  for 
labor  it  is.  The  condition  of  the  society 
in  this  place  was  never  better,  so  far  as 
union  and  attendance  upon  meetings  are 
concerned,  but  the  people  are  poor  and 
feel  that  they  are  not  able  to  pay  so  large 
a  salary  as  they  are  paying  me.  I  have, 
therefore,  concluded  to  seek  another  loca- 


tion. I  feel  bad  to  leave  so  good  a  peo- 
ple. Many  families  are  very  kind  and 
affectionate  and  we  feel  much  attached 
to  them.  I  have  served  on  the  school 
committee,  officiating  as  chairman,  and 
taken  much  interest  in  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation. 

The  presidential  election  came  off  this 
year  with  much  excitement  and  noise. 
The  North  for  once  united  for  freedom, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Illinois,  cast  a  large  vote  for  Fre- 
mont and  freedom.  During  the  year  there 
has  been  great  evils  and  wrongs  com- 
mitted in  Kansas  and  the  pro-slavery 
states,  but  these  wrongs  have  united  the 
North  and  called  for  the  Christian  sym- 
pathy in  substantial  acts  of  charity  and 
relief. 

•ttmltfax,  1R.  5.,  1857 

My  labors  this  year  have  been  less  di- 
versified than  any  previous  year  for  a 
long  time.  I  have  not  attended  an  asso- 
ciation or  convention  or  any  other  public 
meeting  of  our  denomination,  and  have 
not  heard  a  single  sermon  by  one  of  our 
ministers. 

I  have  preached  every  Sunday  but  two 
and  was  prevented  those  two  by  severe 
storms. 

I  preached  in  all  105  sermons,  attended 
only  four  funerals  and  two  weddings, 
baptized  three  adults  and  christened 
three  children  and  made  more  than  two 
hundred  parish  calls. 

The  society  in  Halifax,  N.  S.,  being 
without  a  pastor  and  wishing  me  to  visit 
them  and  spend  a  few  weeks  and  preach 
to  them  the  word  of  the  Kingdom,  I  took 
the  subject  into  consideration  and  con- 
cluded to  make  the  visit.  Accordingly 
on  the  11th  of  February,  I  left  Boston 
in  the  English  steamer  Arabia  for  Hali- 
fax, and,  after  a  very  pleasant  passage 
of  forty-eight  hours,  arrived  in  the  City 
of  Halifax,  N.  S.  Was  met  on  the  wharf 
by  S.  Harvie.  William  P.  West  and  others 
and  conducted  to  Brother  Harvie's  as  my 
home  while  in  the  city.  I  remained  in 
the  city  eight  weeks,  preaching  two  ser- 
mons per  week,  and  then  returned  home. 


26 


The  society  in  Halifax  gave  me  a  unani- 
mous call  to  become  their  pastor  at  a  sal- 
ary of  $S00,  allowing  me  four  weeks'  va- 
cation. In  addition  to  this  sum  as  salary 
the  society  agreed  to  pay  my  expenses  in 
getting  here  and  the  expenses  of  my  fam- 
ily, and  also  pay  the  annual  premium  on 
my  life  policy  for  $2,000,  amounting  to 
$37,  more  or  less.  This  was  considered 
a  very  good  salary  for  this  place,  it  being 
generally  supposed  that  it  costs  less  to 
live  here  than  it  does  in  the  states.  I 
settled  up  my  affairs  in  Annisquam,  sold 
most  of  my  heavy  furniture  at  auction 
and  packed  up  the  remainder,  and  on  the 
27th  of  April  bid  goodby  to  my  friends, 
and,  after  spending  two  days  in  Boston 
and  vicinity,  went  on  board  the  steamer 
Eastern  State,  and  on  Wednesday  morn- 
ing. April  29,  left  the  shores  of  New 
England  and  set  our  faces  toward  the  ris- 
ing sun. 

N,  our  eldest  son,  went  on  board  the 
boat  with  us  and  remained  over  night 
and  left  us  the  next  morning  for  Abing- 
ton,  to  visit  our  friends  there  and  then 
return  to  his  business  in  Gloucester. 

Sunday,  April  26,  at  1  o'clock,  married 
my  eldest  daughter,  Marilla  A.,  to  Wil- 
lard  P.  Griffin.  After  the  marriage  we 
walked  to  the  church,  where  I  had  spent 
three  years  of  my  life  very  pleasantly. 

N  and  Ellen  Foster  stood  up  with  the 
bride  and  groom.  A  few  friends  were 
present  beside  the  families  of  the  parties. 
After  the  meeting  returned  and  dined 
with  the  parents  of  the  bridegroom. 

The  people  of  Annisquam  seemed  very 
unreconciled  to  our  leaving  them,  al- 
though they  had  expressed  to  us  their 
inability  to  pay  the  salary  and  hence 
could  not  blame  us  for  our  decision.  After 
I  had  left  home  on  my  visit  to  Halifax 
the  people  began  to  look  about  to 
see  what  they  could  do  toward 
raising  my  salary  and  to  their  aston- 
ishment they  raised  nearly  $1,000  for 
me  to  remain  with  them  another  year, 
but  this  came  too  late.  I  had  engaged 
to  go  to  Nova  Scotia.  On  the  next  Sun- 
day after  my  return  from  Halifax  the 
Sunday  school  surprised  me  by  a  present 
of   a    heavy    gold   pencil.      It   was   pre- 


sented in  the  church,  before  the  Sunda.v 
school,  by  Elizabeth  Locke,  a  very  bright 
little  miss  of  12  years  of  age.  On  the 
next  Wednesday  evening  at  the  sewing 
circle  at  our  house,  the  ladies  presented 
to  my  wife  a  set  of  teaspoons,  two  large 
tablespoons  and  a  butter  knife,  and  each 
of  the  children  a  napkin  ring. 

Our  connection  with  this  society  had 
been  very  pleasant  and  profitable  and  it 
was  like  tearing  the  flesh  asunder  to 
leave  them.  We  never  expect  to  feel  so 
attached  to  a  people  and  they  seemed 
equally  attached  to  us.  The  people  in 
Squam  are  generally  poor,  but  gen- 
erous and  kind  hearted.  We  have  left 
one  of  our  family  there  and  shall  be 
willing  at  some  future  day  to  return  and 
take  up  our  abode  with  them. 

We  commenced  our  labors  as  pastor  of 
the  society  in  this  city  (Halifax)  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  May  and  have  now  been 
here  with  my  family  just  eight  months, 
and  during  this  time  have  become  pretty 
well  acquainted  with  the  people,  their 
manners  and  customs,  religion  and  poli- 
tics. 

In  theology  the  clergy  are  about  fifty 
years  behind  the  clergy  of  New  England. 
The  English  church  is  the  state  church; 
that  is,  all  the  officers  are  appointed  by 
the  Queen  and  must  swear  to  support 
this  church.  The  bishop  and  clergy  are 
very  bigoted  and  sectarian.  Their  theme 
upon  almost  all  occasions  is  the  Trinity, 
which  they  prove  not  from  the  Scrip- 
tures, but  from  the  ritual  and  church 
decrees.  The  people  are  completely  sub- 
ject to  their  priests  and  dare  not  exer- 
cise their  judgment.  Such  priestly  ser- 
vility I  have  never  witnessed  before. 
The  Catholics  are  also  numerous  here 
and  are  under  their  priests  as  they  are 
everywhere.  The  Methodists,  Baptists 
and  Presbyterians  are  also  numerous  and 
wealthy  in  this  city  and  hold  their  peo- 
ple in  complete  subjection.  Liberal  sen- 
timents cannot  make  much  progress  in 
this  old  city.  The  people  generally  are 
not  educated,  and  those  who  might  be 
supposed  to  break  away  from  the  old 
creed  are  kept  in  subjection  by  social 
and  priestly  influences.     I  have  general- 


27 


ly  attended  some  one  of  the  partialists' 
meetings  in  the  afternoon  of  each  Sab- 
bath, and  I  must  in  truth  bear  witness 
to  the  generally  abused  doctrines  put 
forth.  The  Trinity,  vicarious  atonement 
and  endless  punishment  are  the  themes 
usually  dwelt  upon  and  the  people  sit 
and  sleep  soundly  under  such  heathenish 
sentiments.  When  will  the  day  come 
that  a  better  creed  will  prevail.  O  Lord, 
hasten  the  time.  Let  false  doctrines 
come  to  an  end.  Let  the  truth  be  mag- 
nified and  error  be  banished  from  the 
world. 

During  the  past  year  I  have  written 
more  than  usual  for  the  papers,  espe- 
cially for  the  Freeman  and  Trumpet  and 
New  Covenant.  At  least  ten  long  letters 
have  appeared  from  my  pen  and,  I  trust, 
have  been  read  with  some  degree  of  profit 
by  many  in  our  Zion.  The  year  has  been 
one  of  continued  blessings  to  me  and  my 
family.  Sickness  has  not  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent  entered  our  home. 

On  the  first  of  September,  in  company 
with  Brother  Elliot  of  Dartmouth,  I 
made  a  visit  into  the  country  one  hun- 
dred miles  to  preach  the  word  to  those 
who  had  never  heard  it  proclaimed.  Dur- 
ing the  week  I  preached  to  four  different 
congregations,  in  all  seven  sermons.  The 
people  flocked  to  hear  me  and  seemed  to 
hear  with  all  readiness  of  mind.  Judg- 
ing from  all  appearances,  I  think  the 
people  in  the  country  are  ready  to  hear  a 
better  theology  than  they  have  heard 
hitherto. 

Our  eldest  son,  N,  followed  us  from  the 
states  and  arrived  on  the  25th  of  July 
and  on  the  14th  of  September  commenced 
as  clerk  in  the  store  of  G.  D.  Martin  for 
one  year  for  $160.  Almon  commenced  at- 
tending the  Dalahousie  College  on  the 
29th  of  September  and  continued  till  De- 
cember 20,  devoting  his  time  to  French, 
arithmetic,  geography  and  history,  gram- 
mar and  writing.  Anna  commenced  a 
small  private  school  in  one  of  our  rooms 
on  the  17th  of  August  and  closed  her 
term  the  day  before  Christmas.  This 
was  the  first  money  she  had  earned  and 
she  bought  with  it  a  new  cloak  and  put 
the  balance  into  a  set  of  furs. 


In  September  there  was  a  crisis  in  the 
business  world  which  closed  up  thou- 
sands of  shops  and  turned  tens  of  thou- 
sands out  of  employment,  not  only  in  the 
states,  but  in  the  provinces  and  through- 
out Great  Britain. 

I  have  corresponded  with  the  children 
of  my  Sunday  school  at  Squam.  Have 
written  at  least  200  letters,  some  of  them 
covering  many  pages. 

Ibaltfaj,  1R.  5.,  1858. 

I  commenced  the  new  year  $44  in  ar- 
rears, or,  rather,  have  drawn  this  sum 
from  presents  made  to  me,  which  ought 
to  have  been  added  to  my  little  fund  in 
reserve  for  old  age.  Upon  the  whole,  re- 
ceipts of  the  past  year  for  services,  per- 
quisites, presents,  etc.,  we  have  gained 
in  finances  about  $36,  as  a  surplus  to 
commence  the  new  year  with,  beside  a 
fair  stock  of  fuel  and  provisions  on  hand. 

This  record  is  made  on  the  last  day  of 
the  expiring  year,  1858,  and  may  be  con- 
sidered as  made  in  view  of  past  ex- 
travagances and  in  a  firm  resolution  for 
the  future.  It  is  a  sin  for  a  family  to 
live  beyond  its  means,  extraordinary  cir- 
cumstances excepted. 

On  the  third  Sunday  in  January,  in 
company  with  my  friend,  G.  D.  Martin, 
I  left  home  for  Falmouth,  about  fifty 
miles  in  the  country,  to  preach.  I  found 
ample  accommodations  with  Benjamin 
Church.  Sunday  morning  repaired  to 
the  church,  where  I  found  a  good  con- 
gregation, to  which  I  preached  three 
times  during  the  day  and  evening,  and 
seldom  have  I  addressed  a  congregation 
which  manifested  so  much  interest  and 
so  great  a  desire  to  listen.  They  seemed 
to  drink  at  a  refreshing  fountain.  Many 
old  men  seemed  to  rejoice  in  hope  and 
I  can  but  think  that  some  good  was  done 
by  this  day's  labor. 

About  3  o'clock  on  Monday  morning 
I  was  aroused  from  my  quiet  slumbers 
by  a  severe  pain  in  my  abdomen,  which 
increased  till  4  o'clock  to  such  inten- 
sity that  1  could  not  bear  it  without 
groaning,  which  aroused  the  inmates  of 
the  house  and  they  came  to  my  relief. 
Everything  that  kindness  could  do  was 


28 


done  but  without  effect.  The  physician 
was  sent  for,  who,  after  a  few  hours  of 
attention,  succeeded  in  relieving  the  pain 
and  removing  the  danger.  I  call  this  a 
sad  experience  and  yet  there  was  much 
connected  with  it  of  a  pleasant  char- 
acter. First,  the  kind  attention  of  friends 
in  Falmouth,  especially  the  family  with 
whom  I  tarried.  Second,  the  anxiety  of 
the  society  in  Halifax  and  Dartmouth. 
Two  of  them  came  to  see  me,  and  others 
were  ready  to  start  at  the  least  un- 
favorable notice.  Third,  the  cheering 
views  of  my  religion.  The  pain  was  so 
severe  that  from  the  first  I  did  not  ex- 
pect to  recover.  It  seemed  to  me  that  I 
had  preached  my  last  sermon  and  that  in 
a  few  hours  I  should  experience  the 
pangs  of  death,  and  yet  my  mind  was 
perfectly  clear  and  death  never  appeared 
so  beautiful.  I  wished  to  be  at  home 
with  my  family  and  have  them  around 
me,  but  the  fact  of  dying  was  not  un- 
pleasant to  me.  I  felt  that  I  would  like 
to  live  for  them,  and  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel, that  the  errors  and  superstitions  of 
the  people  might  be  removed,  but  if  it 
was  God's  will  for  me  to  lay  off  the  armor 
then,  I  felt  perfectly  willing  to  go.  Hav- 
ing recovered  from  this  violent  attack 
(brought  on  by  over  exertion  and  sudden 
cold),  I  felt  now  more  zealous  than  ever 
in  the  cause  of  Christ  and  shall,  so  long 
as  God  shall  continue  me  in  the  field, 
labor  with  more  euergy  in  the  Gospel 
vineyard. 

After  a  few  days  of  quiet  I  preached 
on  Sunday  and  on  the  Wednesday  fol- 
lowing went  to  Truro  as  representative 
to  the  Grand  Division  of  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance, and  on  Thursday  was  taken  with 
severe  pains  in  my  bowels,  which  were 
followed  with  diarrhoea,  returned  home 
on  Friday  and  on  Saturday  called  in  a 
physician,  who  attended  me  for  nearly 
two  weeks.  For  two  Sundays  I  did  not 
preach  or  leave  the  house.  During  these 
two  weeks  of  sickness  I  reviewed  my 
past  life,  my  present  faith  and  duties 
and  find  nothing  in  my  faith  to  change, 
and  arose  from  the  examination  with  the 
conviction  that  Universalisin  is  just  the 
truth  of  God,  and  ought  to  be  preached 
with  power. 


The  congregation  held  a  meeting  on  the 
31st  of  January  and  passed  resolutions, 
first,  approving  my  course  and  labors 
since  I  came  among  them  and,  second, 
inviting  me  to  re-engage  for  two  years 
longer.  These  resolutions  I  duly  con- 
sidered and  finally  concluded  to  remain 
till  my  place  could  be  supplied  by  a  min- 
ister who  would  carry  forward  the  work 
which  is  now  in  progress. 

I  here  record  that  the  society  in  this 
city  has  performed  all  its  pecuniary  ob- 
ligations to  me  faithfully  and  by  many 
tokens  of  esteem  and  friendship  endeared 
themselves  to  our  hearts.  After  two 
years  of  very  intimate  acquaintance,  we 
feel  that  our  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in 
pleasant  places. 

On  the  28th  of  June  a  little  boy,  after- 
ward christened  Herbert  Foster  Gunni- 
son, came  to  us  and  has  proved  himself 
a  dear  little  comfort. 

DOCTRINAL  LECTURES. 

On  the  first  Sunday  in  November  I  ad- 
vertised a  course  of  doctrinal  lectures 
for  Sunday  evenings.  At  once  my  house 
was  filled  with  attentive  hearers.  After 
I  had  given  nine  discourses,  the  Rev.  J. 
Hunter,  the  most  popular  clergyman  of 
this  city,  came  out  with  three  sermons 
in  opposition  to  Universalism  and  in  re- 
view of  my  sermons  on  "The  Coming  of 
Christ,"  "End  of  the  World"  and  "Ever- 
lasting Punishment."  As  soon  as  Mr. 
Hunter  closed  his  review  the  Lord  Bishop 
of  Nova  Scotia  commenced  a  series  upon 
the  same  subjects  and  continued  for  five 
Sunday  evenings.  I  commenced  a  re- 
view of  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter's  arguments 
on  the  last  Sunday  of  February  and  con- 
tinued till  the  first  of  April,  five  even- 
ings. There  has  been  much  discussion 
in  the  streets  and  throughout  the  city 
and  I  doubt  not  some  little  good  has 
been  accomplished.  Our  little  church 
was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity  and 
not  a  few  became  enlightened  upon  the 
teachings  of  the  Bible. 

On  the  first  Sunday  of  April  I  com- 
menced a  review  of  the  Lord  Bishop's 
arguments  and  continued  it  till  the  first 
Sunday   of  June,   on   which   eve   I   con- 


29 


eluded  the  series,  having  spoken  nine 
consecutive  evenings  to  large  houses.  I 
devoted  one  evening  to  a  review  of  his 
sermon  and  one  to  an  exposition  of  the 
text  upon  which  he  preached,  thus  not 
only  demolishing  his  argument,  but  ex- 
plaining the  text. 

This  course  of  reviews  has  done  much 
toward  enlightening  the  minds  of  this 
city.  There  are  not  a  few  who  acknowl- 
edge their  conversion  to  the  doctrine  of 
Universalism  and  there  are  now  hun- 
dreds who  are  free  to  doubt  the 
faith  of  partialism.  The  clergy  are 
as  vindictive  as  their  creeds  are 
cruel.  They  say  all  manner  of  things 
of  us,  and  give  our  doctrine  a  blow  when- 
ever they  can  get  a  chance  to  do  so,  but 
our  sentiments  are  continually  gaining 
a  foothold  and  eliminating  from  hundreds 
of  hearts  the  old  leaven  of  the  Pharisees. 

My  lectures  have  created  much  talk 
and  no  little  excitement,  not  only  in  this 
city,  but  throughout  the  province.  Let- 
ters are  frequently  coming  to  me  from 
the  country  urging  me  to  visit  the  coun- 
try and  preach  the  Gospel  to  famishing 
souls,  assuring  me  that  the  clergy  are 
alarmed  at  the  reports  of  my  silencing 
the  Lord  Bishop!  Oh,  that  I  could  go 
and  preach  to  those  poor  and  bound 
souls,  who  are  panting  for  freedom  and 
famishing  for  the  bread  of  life. 

May  the  Lord  send  forth  more  laborers 
into  His  vineyard.  O  that  Universalists 
would  manifest  as  much  zeal  in  propa- 
gating their  truths  as  the  Methodists  do 
in  spreading  their  abominable  lie.  Then 
should  we  see  this  moral  wilderness  bud 
and  blossom  as  the  rose.  May  the  Lord 
hasten  it  in  his  time. 

One  word  now  in  reference  to  my 
friends,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter  and  his 
Lordship  the  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia,  who 
undertook  to  strike  a  blow  at  Uni- 
versalism. The  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter  is  a 
Scotchman  by  birth  and  pastor  of  the 
Chalmers  Church  in  this  city,  a  man  of 
fair  talents,  a  good  speaker  and  con- 
sidered by  his  own  people  as  a  popular 
orator,  but,  like  his  school,  severe,  aris- 
tocratic and  bitterly  sectarian.  He  is 
somewhat  a  controversalist,  but  evident- 


ly not  acquainted  with  the  system  of  doc- 
trine which  he  attempted  to  put  down. 
The  Bishop  is  a  sprig  of  Oxford  divinity 
and  depends  upon  his  dignity  as  Lord 
Bishop  for  the  force  of  his  arguments. 
He  is  not  a  theologian  and  is  as  ignorant 
of  the  arguments  of  Universalists  as  a 
little  child,  and  has  studied  his  church 
ritual  to  the  neglect  of  his  Bible.  As  to 
cleverness,  he  is  not  a  match  for  his  yoke- 
fellow, Hunter,  and,  were  it  not  for  his 
position,  his  attacks  upon  Universalism 
would  not  have  been  worthy  the  atten- 
tion I  have  paid  them.  His  positions  and 
arguments  are  weak,  puerile,  contradic- 
tory and  absurd,  but  have  served  as  an 
occasion  to  show  how  weak  and  unsound 
are  the  arguments  of  our  opposers. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hunter  left  the  city  soon  after 
I  closed  my  review  of  his  sermons.  His 
Lordship  is  still  in  the  city,  but  is  silent 
upon  the  subject  of  Universalism.  It  is 
presumed  that  he  will  be  cautious  in 
future  how  he  attacks  his  neighbors. 

After  I  closed  my  review  of  the  Bishop 
and  had  preached  two  discourses  in 
direct  proof  of  Universalism  our  pews 
were  all  taken  up  and  more  called  for. 
The  congregation  was  called  together 
and  after  due  consultation  it  was  voted 
unanimously  to  enlarge  and  beautify  the 
church.  Accordingly  a  committee  was 
chosen  and  operations  commenced  at 
once  and  the  church  was  closed  for  a 
little  season. 

On  the  15th  of  June  the  society,  through 
Mrs.  Rachel  West  and  Sarah  Martin,  pre- 
sented me  with  a  gold  watch,  chain  and 
key,  which  cost  $104,  as  a  testimonial  of 
their  "appreciation  of  my  labors,  and  es- 
teem for  my  many  virtues,"  and  at  the 
same  time  they  presented  my  wife  with 
a  set  of  silver  forks,  costing  $27.  We  are 
happy  to  know  that  our  efforts  are  so 
highly  appreciated  and  feel  that  we  have 
every  reason  to  renew  our  energies  and 
labor  more  zealously  for  the  upbuilding 
of  the  cause  in  this  city.  May  the  Lord 
bless  those  generous  donors,  and  build 
them  up  into  a  beautiful  spiritual  temple, 
in  which  shall  dwell  all  the  virtues  of  the 
spiritual  body. 


30 


MISSIONARY  WORK. 

On  the  27th  of  July  I  started  on  a  mis- 
sionary tour  of  three  weeks,  taking  my 
son  Walter  with  me  for  his  health  and 
to  keep  me  company.  We  drove  on 
through  Shubernacadie,  Truro,  Onslow, 
Londonderry,  Amherst,  and  arrived  at  my 
friend's,  Amos  Seaman,  in  Minudie,  on 
the  eve  of  Saturday,  the  30th  of  July, 
where  we  found  a  cordial  welcome. 

Sunday  I  preached,  morning  and  even- 
ing, in  Mr.  Seaman's  schoolhouse  to  a 
large  and  attentive  congregation.  I  spoke 
extemporaneously  for  one  and  a  half 
hours  each  service.  I  preached  in  the 
same  place  again  on  Monday  evening  and 
again  in  a  fortnight  on  my  return. 

I  feel  that  much  good  seed  was  sown  in 
this  place.  The  people  all  listened  with 
devout  attention.  I  remained  here  till 
Wednesday,  when  Mr.  Seaman  took  his 
team  and  carried  me  to  Amherst.  Here 
I  found  a  few  friends,  who  urged  me  to 
make  an  appointment  for  my  return.  I 
consented  to  do  so  and  gave  out  notice 
accordingly,  and  passed  on  my  way  to 
Sackville,  N.  B.  I  had  a  letter  of  intro- 
duction to  Mr.  Easterbrook,  keeper  of  the 
public  house,  who  entertained  me  free 
of  expense,  and  interested  himself  in 
getting  up  a  meeting  for  me.  In  this 
place  Methodism  has  a  strong  hold.  Their 
schools  are  situated  here,  which  I  visited 
and  was  courteously  entertained  by  the 
principals,  Rev.  Mr.  Allison  and  Pickard, 
who  showed  me  every  part  of  the  estab- 
lishment and  gave  me  all  the  desired  in- 
formation. This  is  a  good  institution, 
well  managed,  and  Were  I  a  Methodist  I 
should  feel  proud  of  it.  I  preached  in 
this  place  (Sackville)  on  Friday  evening, 
August  5.  to  a  large  and  very  attentive 
congregation  and  gave  out  notice  that  I 
would  preach  again  in  one  week.  Ap- 
plication was  made  to  the  Baptists  for 
their  church,  but  in  vain,  so  I  was  obliged 
to  occupy  the  temperance  hall.  The  con- 
gregations on  both  occasions  were  large 
and  attentive.  On  Saturday,  6th,  Mr. 
Joseph  Ayer,  an  old  Universalist.  con- 
veyed me  to  Dorchester,  ten  miles  dis- 
tant, where  I  had  an  appointment  for 
Sunday.      Put    up    with    Mr.    Hickman, 


keeper  of  the  public  house,  had  a  large 
meeting  on  Sunday  in  the  court  house, 
and  excellent  attention. 

I  preached  in  this  place  again  on 
Wednesday  evening  to  a  large  and  deep- 
ly attentive  congregation.  There  is  much 
inquiry  in  this  place,  and  I  can  but  hope 
that  some  inquiring  minds  were  ushered 
into  the  light  of  truth. 

Monday  I  went  on  in  the  stage  to  Monc- 
ton, twenty-two  miles.  Here  I  found  but 
few  Universalists,  and  they  had  united 
themselves  with  the  Baptists.  I  made 
arrangements  for  a  meeting  and  passed 
on  to  Shediac,  by  railroad.  Here  I 
found  no  Universalists,  applied  for  the 
Methodist  church  and  could  not  obtain 
it.  Secured  the  temperance  hall  and  put 
up  my  notice  and  made  all  arrangements 
myself  and  at  my  own  expense.  Congre- 
gation large  and  good  attention.  Spoke 
one  hour  and  a  half  upon  the  reason  of 
our  hope.  After  I  got  through  a  Metho- 
dist brother  arose  and  undertook  to  re- 
ply, but  made  bad  work  of  it.  A  few 
remarks  closed  his  mouth,  after  which 
a  ridiculous  scene  was  acted.  A  score  of 
men  pushed  to  the  desk  to  confound  me 
with  their  questions  and  texts,  which 
were  not  in  the  Bible.  I  answered  them 
in  such  a  way  as  to  silence  them  com- 
pletely. 

On  Wednesday  morning  I  paid  my  bill 
at  the  tavern  and  returned  to  Moncton, 
and  put  up  with  Mr.  Flynn,  whose  wife 
is  the  only  lady  Universalist  in  the  place. 
Mr.  Record  procured  a  place  for  me  to 
preach  in  the  old  Baptist  church,  which 
was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity.  I 
preached  one  and  a  half  hours  upon  the 
reasons  of  our  faith.  Two  Baptist  min- 
isters were  present  and  many  of  their 
congregations,  but  not  one  word  was 
said  in  review.  Next  morning  left  my 
friends  in  Moncton  and  proceeded  to  Dor- 
chester to  fulfill  my  second  appointment 
in  that  place.  Next  day  came  to  Sack- 
ville and  on  Saturday  proceeded  to  Am- 
herst, N.  S.,  to  preach  Sunday  morning. 
Sunday  morning  upon  repairing  to  the 
court  house  to  meet  my  appointment  I 
found  the  people  without  and  the  house 
locked.     This  was  an  act  of  illiberality 


31 


which  I  had  not  met  with  in  all  my  tour. 
However,  at  12  o'clock  the  house  was 
opened  and  I  entered  and  delivered  my 
message.  At  6  o'clock  I  preached  again. 
The  house  was  full,  but  no  lights  nor 
any  other  convenience.  This  place,  Am- 
herst, is  a  shabby  place  and  under  the 
rule  of  ministers.  The  only  courtesy  I 
received  in  this  village  was  from  Cath- 
olics. I  shall  long  remember  this  place 
as  a  mean  and  aristocratic  place  and  but 
little  advanced  from  a  state  of  heathen- 
ism. 

Monday  morning  I  took  the  stage  for 
Minudie,  crossed  the  ferry  and  was  at 
friend  Seaman's  in  season  for  dinner.  I 
preached  in  this  place  on  this  Monday 
evening  to  a  large  and  attentive  congre- 
gation and  on  the  next  day,  Tuesday, 
went  over  the  Boar's  Back,  as  it  is  called, 
to  Parrsboro,  where,  on  the  next  morning, 
I  embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Windsor, 
and  by  cars  reached  home  Weduesday 
evening,  having  been  absent  three  weeks 
and  one  day  and  traveled  400  miles  and 
preached  twelve  sermons  in  six  different 
places.  This  closed  my  first  tour  into 
New  Brunswick,  and  I  can  but  feel  that 
I  have  scattered  good  seed  and  that  some 
of  it  will  vegetate  and  bring  forth  fruit. 
I  have  met  with  many  Universal ists  and 
conversed  with  hundreds  who  have  out- 
grown the  creeds  of  their  fathers  and  are 
sighing  for  something  better  than  partial- 
ism.  The  Lord  will  bless  the  efforts  of 
His  faithful  servants  and  in  due  time 
crown  all  the  labors  with  success. 

On  the  25th  of  August  I  went  to  Fal- 
mouth to  get  up  a  meeting  for  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday.  Every  effort  was  made 
by  the  partialists  to  keep  me  out  of  the 
church,  but  the  people  did  not  second 
the  efforts  of  their  priests,  and  so  I 
was  allowed  to  bear  my  testimony.  I 
preached  in  the  morning  on  the  "Great 
Salvation."  .Tude  iii,  and  in  the  even- 
ing continued  the  subject,  and  gave  the 
nature  and  extent  of  salvation.  I  found 
in  this  place  that  my  labors  of  last  win- 
ter were  not  in  vain.  The  seed  then 
sown  has  taken  root  and  was  already 
producing  fruit,  and  this  last  visit  I  am 
satisfied  wil  not  be  lost  upon  the  people. 


On  the  1st  of  September  I  went  to 
Yarmouth,  N.  S.,  and  spent  one  week 
and  preached  five  long  discourses.  Here 
the  priest  of  partialism  spared  no  pains 
to  prevent  my  lectures,  but  all  their  ef- 
forts only  tended  to  give  me  a  good  au- 
dience. The  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  Methodist, 
came  out  last  winter  with  a  series  of 
discourses  upon  Universalism,  and  it  was 
to  answer  those  discourses  that  I  ap- 
peared in  Yarmouth.  I  published  my 
visit  in  the  papers  and  invited  all  the 
clergymen  in  the  place  to  come  forward 
and  meet  me  in  public  debate,  but  not 
one  came.  They  all  stood  back  and 
growled  like  whipped  dogs.  The  people 
heard  the  word  gladly,  while  their 
priests  admonished.  I  preached  upon  the 
great  salvation,  the  Scripture  proofs 
of  salvation,  the  moral  argument;  argu- 
ment based  upon  the  character  of  God, 
and  finally  upon  the  comparative  moral 
influence  of  Partialism  and  Universal- 
ism, and  many  hearers  came  forward 
and  declared  themselves  satisfied.  Great 
inducements  were  held  out  for  me  to 
remain  another  week,  but  I  thought  they 
had  about  as  much  as  they  could  well 
digest.  After  I  left  the  place  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Angel  and  Harris  came  out 
against  the  doctrine  I  had  advocated, 
and  contended  earnestly  for  the  faith 
of  endless  punishment. 

What  heroes;  they  are  worthy  of  all 
honor  for  their  bravery.  While  the  en- 
emy was  present  not  one  of  these 
dared  to  move  his  blade,  but  as  soon 
as  there  was  no  danger,  lo,  and  behold! 
they  make  a  great  flourish  of  trumpets. 
They  will  live  to  fight  another  day. 

On  the  last  Sunday  in  September  we 
resumed  services  in  our  improved 
church.  It  had  been  closed  for  enlarge- 
ment and  improvement  for  eight  weeks, 
during  which  time  the  people  had  at- 
tended other  meetings  and  listened  to 
the  preaching  of  terror  and  torment,  and 
were  glad  to  get  back  again  into  their 
own  quarters. 

On  the  first  Sunday  in  October  I  com- 
menced a  series  of  sermons  to  the  young, 
which  were  continued  through  seven 
weeks   and   called   out  good   audiences. 


32 


i 


ANN  L.  GUNNISON 


ANN    L.  GUNNISON 


NATHANIEL   GUNNISON 


Quite  a  number  of  additional  pews  were 
let,  and  the  people  seemed  disposed  to 
work  together  in  building  up  the  cause 
in  this  benighted  region. 

Iballfaj,  IB.  5.,  1859. 

During  the  year  1859  I  have 
preached  101  sermons  in  nine  different 
places.  In  addition  to  these  sermons  I 
have  spoken  on  temperance  and  other 
subjects  at  festivals  and  on  public  oc- 
casions. I  have  written  more  than  30 
articles  and  letters  for  different  period- 
icals, principally  for  the  Trumpet  and 
Freeman  and  Maine  Farmer.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  year  I  resolved  to 
live  within  my  legitimate  salary,  $800,  if 
health  continued  to  me  and  my  fam- 
ily. By  balancing  the  books  I  find  that 
we  have  lived  within  our  salary  and 
have  $18.53  surplus.  In  addition  to 
this  I  have  $26.42  received  for  mission- 
ary labors,  making  $44.95.  This  is  a 
small  sum  to  lay  by  for  old  age,  but  it 
is  better  than  I  have  done  before  for 
many  years,  and  for  this  increase  of 
means  I  feel  truly  thankful.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  sum  we  have  our  perqui- 
sites and  presents,  amounting  to  some- 
thing over  $150  in  valuable  articles, 
which  we  prize  very  much. 

The  year  just  drawing  to  a  close  has 
been  one  of  much  labor  and  toil  to  each 
one  of  us.  N,  since  April,  has  been  in 
a  grocery  store  at  the  small  salary  of 
$4  per  week.  Almon  has  been  in  the 
same  business  at  $3  per  week.  Anna 
spent  the  summer  months  in  visiting  her 
friends  in  the  States.  Walter  has  at- 
tended to  his  education,  and  little  Her- 
bert has  been  the  pet  of  the  household, 
and  the  plague  of  his  father's  study. 
The  year  is  closing  upon  us  and  this  jour- 
nal of  1859  must  be  closed  and  laid  aside 
with  those  of  years  gone  by.  We  are 
thus  reminded  of  the  fleetness  of  time 
and  that  we  are  filling  up  the  measure  of 
our  days  and  will  soon  be  laid  aside  that 
others  may  fill  our  places,  with  the  faith 
warm  and  fresh  in  our  hearts.  There  is 
nothing  terrible  in  all  this.  We  are  trav- 
eling on  toward  our  true  home  and  to 
the  dear  friends  that  have  gone  be- 
fore.    We  shall  meet  them  all  again  in 


the  brighter  and  better  world.  May  our 
Father  prepare  us  to  meet  with  resig- 
nation the  events  whether  joyous  or 
otherwise  the  year  on  which  we  are  soon 
to  enter. 

tmltfaj,  1R.  5.,  I860. 

January  22— Our  dear  boy  Almon  bid 
us  good  bye  this  morning  and  took  pas- 
sage in  brig  America  for  Boston. 

February  9— Walter  enters  the  Aca- 
dian School. 

April  5 — Received  a  letter  from  Al- 
mon announcing  his  resolve  to  become 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel.    Amen. 

May  3— Bought  a  coat  for  Almon,  $0. 
Mother  gives  the  pants,  N  the  vest. 
Wrote  him  a  letter  congratulating  him 
upon  his  success,  etc. 

June  2 — Attended  the  Minchon  Mu- 
seum with  children.  Fii"st  appearance 
of  Herbert  in  public. 

December  28— News  of  secession  of 
South  Carolina  came  this  evening  and  so 
the  Union  is  dissolved.  Well,  let  her 
slide.  Better  dissolve  than  sink,  as  it 
must  unless  slavery  is  abolished. 

I  have  preached  during  this  year  past 
78  sermons  in  Halifax,  and  in  all  106. 

On  the  18th  of  July  I  left  on  a  tour  of 
15  weeks.  Visited  my  friends  in  Boston, 
New  York,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Wisconsin. 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire.  Spent  in 
all  these  places  15  weeks  and  returned 
home  on  the  22d  day  of  October.  Dur- 
ing my  absence  Brother  A.  G.  Laurie 
preached  during  August  and  Brother 
Walter  during  September. 

I  received  many  flattering  invitations 
to  settle  in  the  West,  but  did  not  feel  free 
to  leave  this  hard  field  of  labor.  On  the 
22d  of  January  Almon  left  home  for  one 
year  to  attend  school  in  the  States,  and 
on  the  28th  of  February  entered  the 
Green  Mountain  Liberal  Institute  as  a 
student,  where  he  yet  remains.  During 
the  year  the  usual  good  health  of  my- 
self and  family  has  been  preserved,  for 
which,  I  trust,  we  all  feel  thankful. 

The  society  held  a  bazaar  and  realized 
over  $800.  Paid  off  all  debts  and  thor- 
oughly fitted  up  the  church,  so  that  now 
we  have  as  neat  and  comfortable  a  place 
of  worship  as  any  in  the  city.    Peace  and 


33 


prosperity  has  attended  us  and  our  cause 
has  gradually  advanced.  It  is  very  evi- 
dent that  truth  is  gaining  its  way  even 
in  this  benighted  region  of  superstition 
and  ignorance.  I  have  written  more  or 
less  for  the  papers,  and  published  one 
sermon  on  the  subject  of  the  Sabbath. 
This  sermon  was  drawn  out  by  a  dis- 
cussion upon  the  subject  between  the 
Pharisees  and  the  Gentiles.  The  Phari- 
see claimed  the  old  Jewish  Sabbath  for 
Christians.  The  Gentiles  abolished  all 
Sabbaths;  hence  the  sermon  referred  to. 
On  the  last  Sunday  of  the  year  I  re- 
ceived a  tract  put  forth  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Cramp,  President  of  the  Baptist  Col- 
lege in  this  Province  upon  the  question, 
"What  Will  Become  of  the  Wicked?" 
To  hear  this  review  great  multitudes 
attended,  and  our  little  church  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  thus 
evincing  a  more  liberal  spirit  than  for- 
merly shown  in  this  place.  I  shall  try 
hard  to  keep  up  this  excitement,  and  put 
a  little  truth  into  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  Pharisees  are  greatly  disturbed. 
They  know  not  what  to  do.  If  they  at- 
tempt to  answer  me,  it  will  only  provoke 
their  people  to   hear  my  replies. 

We  shall  hold  on  and  take  courage.  The 
year  just  passed  has  been  one  of  sweet 
labor,  but  of  great  peace  to  us  all.  Our 
friends  have  been  preserved  to  us,  for 
no  deaths  have  taken  place  either  in  our 
family  or  religious  circle,  and  we  have 
been  kindly  cared  for  by  the  members  of 
the  Society.  Many  times  have  they  re- 
membered us  with  valuable  presents  and 
spoke  to  us  many  words  of  good  cheer. 
Better  friends  we  have  never  found,  and 
it  will  be  a  hard  struggle  for  us  to  leave 
them  for  those  we  know  not. 

On  account  of  our  expensive  tours  we 
have  fallen  behind  in  financial  matters, 
but  by  good  management  and  good 
health  we  will  try  and  bring  up  the  bal- 
ance during  the  coming  year.  Upon  the 
whole  we  have  much  to  be  thankful  for 
and  will  bid  adieu  to  the  old  year  and 
buckle  on  anew  the  armor  for  the  new. 

Ibaltfaj,  1R.  5.,  1861 

The  saddest  experience  of  my  life  was 
on  the  21st  of  June  of  this  year.  Anna, 


my  angel  daughter,  left  me  for  her 
Father  in  Heaven  at  3  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  the  nature  of  the  disease 
was  such  that  we  had  to  bury  her  at 
10  o'clock  same  day.  N  and  my  wife 
had  the  disease,  smallpox,  and  got  over 
it,  but  Anna  could  not  wrestle  with 
the  destroyer  successfully  and  had  to 
yield.  She  suffered  much  and,  oh,  how 
much  did  we  all  suffer  for  her.  She  is 
not  to  die  again,  thank  God.  Her  spirit 
is  no»v  with  the  angels.  But,  oh,  how 
we  suffer  on  account  of  her  absence. 
On  Sunday,  23d,  Brother  Knapen 
preached  a  funeral  sermon,  and  our  lit- 
tle church  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capac- 
ity. Everybody  loved  Anna  and 
mourned  her  early  departure.  She  was 
an  idol.  We  loved  her  because  she  was 
good.  Everybody  loved  her  for  the  same 
reason.  She  has  gone  on  to  prepare  a 
place  for  us.  God  be  thanked  for  so 
good  a  daughter.  We  will  not  mourn 
for  she  is  in  heaven.  Goodby,  daughter— 
we  will  meet  again. 

(Note — The  following  are  extracts  from  a  letter 
to  Mrs.  Norwood  of  Annisquam,  written  by  Na- 
thaniel   Gunnison    on    September   25,    1861.) 

We  have  met  with  a  severe  loss  in  the  de- 
parture of  Anna.  She  was  a  good  girl,  always 
obedient,  respectful,  cheerful  and  happy.  I  do 
not  think  I  ever  knew  so  artless  and  natural  a 
girl.  There  was  no  put-on  to  her.  She  was  as 
mild  as  love  itself  and  as  bold  as  a  lion.  She 
dared  to  do  what  she  considered  right  no  mat- 
ter who  opposed.  All  our  memories  of  her  are 
sweet.  We  cannot  call  up  a  single  instance  in 
her  whole  character  that  we  would  wish  changed. 
Her  life  was  a  perfect  life.  Any  change  would 
have  marred  it.  She  was  as  natural  as  the  birds. 
She  ran,  romped,  sung,  played,  laughed  and 
talked  because  she  could  not  help  doing  so.  Her 
nature  was  overflowing  with  goodness.  She  loved 
everybody  and  I  do  not  think  she  ever  formed  an 
acquaintance  that  did  not  love  her.  In  this  city, 
where  she  developed  from  girlhood  into  woman- 
hood, everybody  seemed  to  be  on  intimate  terms 
with  her.  She  had  friends,  personal  and  fast, 
in  all  the  societies  in  the  city.  I  thank  the  Lord 
for  so  good  a  daughter.  She  developed  young  and 
marked  out  her  mission  faithfully.  She  has  gone 
to  a  higher  circle  and  we  are  left  to  mourn  her 
departure.  We  cannot  wish  to  call  her  back  to 
earth  although  our  house  is  truly  desolate  with- 
out her.  Marilla  will  tell  you  all  about  the  cir- 
cumstances of  her  sudden  departure  and  how  ter- 
ribly afflicting   they  were. 

Almon  came  home  from  Woodstock, 
Vt.,  where  he  had  been  at  school  for  18 
months,  on  July  21.  Remained  at  home 
till  July  27,  when  I  accompanied  him 
to  Minudie,  N.  S.,  to  engage  in  teach- 
ing. Arrived  at  Mr.  Seaman's  at  2 
o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  and  Almon 
commenced   his  school  on   Tuesday   fol- 


34 


lowing,  and  continued  it  through  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year.  This  was  his  first 
attempt  at  teaching,  and  I  am  happy  to 
record  that  he  succeeded  admirably.  N 
remained  with  Mr.  Tully  through  the 
year,  and  still  continues  with  him.  In 
April  the  society  put  an  organ  into  the 
church,  at  a  cost  of  $525.  And  our  dear 
daughter  Anna  was  instrumental  in  this 
work,  and  after  it  was  put  up  she  lived 
at  the  instrument.  It  was  her  joy  and 
delight  to  practice.  She  lived  but  five 
or  six  weeks  to  enjoy  it. 

Our  congregations  have  increased,  and 
the  year  closes  with  the  society  free  from 
debt,  and  $200  in  funds  belonging  to 
Sunday  School  and  Sewing  Circle.  The 
Grand  Division  S.  of  T.,  in  annual  ses- 
sion convened,  elected  me  to  the  office 
of  W.  A.  and  the  P.  W.  P.,  and  in  consid- 
eration of  the  services  I  had  rendered 
the  cause  of  temperance,  presented  me 
with  a  National  Division  Regalia  and  an 
address  flattering  to  my  pride,  and  I 
trust,  appreciated  by  my  sense  of  justice. 

During  the  year  I  have  kept  up  my 
relations  with  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows 
and  Sons  of  Temperance,  and  so  far  as 
circumstances  would  allow  have  at- 
tended the  regular  meetings  of  these 
bodies.  During  the  past  year  liberal 
Christianity  has  made  great  advances. 
Some  of  the  best  minds  in  Europe  and 
America  have  put  forth  protests  against 
the  old  sacrificial  theology. 

The  Rebellion  in  the  States  broke  out 
this  year.  The  flag  that  has  protected 
us  for  70  years  was  wantonly  trampled 
in  the  dust  by  a  portion  of  its  subjects, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  year  our  beloved 
country  is  in  the  midst  of  a  mighty  rev- 
olution. Sixty  thousand  men  are  in  the 
field  on  the  side  of  the  Union,  and  as 
many  against  it,  and  the  combat  deepens. 

The  year  of  1861  has  been  an  event- 
ful year.  History  has  been  made  very 
fast.  Some  of  the  brightest  and  some 
of  the  darkest  pages  have  been  written. 
Provisions  during  the  year  were  abund- 
ant and  cheap.  The  war  in  the  States 
had  a  tendency  to  throw  a  great  many 
out  of  employment,  and  hence  there  was 
more  or  less  suffering.    I  have  done  what 


I  could  to  assist  the  poor  by  my  own  con- 
tributions and  by  soliciting  aid  of 
others.  The  Lord  be  praised  for  His 
goodness  to  me  and  mine  during  the 
year  just  past,  although  He  has  made 
us  drink  of  the  bitter  cup  of  affliction. 
Yet  He  has  been  gracious  to  us,  and 
given  us  abundant  occasion  for  thank- 
fulness even  amidst  our  sharpest  griefs. 

■foalffas,  1R.  5.,  1862 

My  son  N  left  home  in  April  for  Sher 
bi-ooke  to  try  his  fortune  in  trade  with 
the  miners.  Almon  returned  to  Vermont 
in  February  to  finish  up  his  prepara- 
tions for  college.  My  family  at  the  close 
of  the  year  consists  of  four  of  us,  with 
the  addition  of  the  little  girl,  Rebecca 
Moffat,  whom  I  have  taken  as  my  ward 
to  bring  up  and  educate.  She  is  12  years 
old,  and  the  daughter  of  one  of  the 
old  members  of  my  church. 

My  relations  with  the  society  continue 
uninterrupted.  Our  congregations  are 
as  large  as  at  any  previous  time,  and 
perhaps  larger.  Our  Sunday  School  was 
never  in  so  good  a  condition  as  now. 
The  church  has  increased  during  the 
past  year.  Quite  a  number  of  the  young 
have  joined  us.  This  has  been  a  year 
of  great  anxiety  on  account  of  the  war 
in  my  own  native  land. 

tmlffas,  1R.  5.,  1863 

During  the  year  I  have  preached  88 
sermons.  During  the  months  of  Septem- 
ber and  October  I  was  not  able  to  preach 
being  confined  to  the  house  and  under 
charge  of  two  doctors,  with  a  carbuncle. 
My  friends  were  very  kind  to  me.  Early 
in  the  spring  N  left  for  the  States  for 
employment,  and  in  June  I  made  a  visit 
to  the  States  and  left  Almon  to  keep 
the  pulpit  supplied  by  reading  sermons. 
Almon  entered  Tufts  College  in  August. 

THE  CHESAPEAKE  AFFAIR. 
By  special  request  of  the  American 
Consul,  Judge  Jackson,  I  received  the 
appointment  and  performed  the  duties 
of  the  ofBce  for  five  weeks  in  April  and 
May.  In  September  the  Consul  again 
left   home  and   the  office  fell   into  my 


35 


hands.  In.  December  the  Chesapeake 
was  taken  by  pirates  and  retaken  by  the 
United  States  gunboat  Ella  and  Annie 
and  brought  into  Halifax.  It  devolved 
upon  me  to  correspond  with  the  gov- 
ernment of  Nova  Scotia  in  reference  to 
this  unpleasant  affair,  which,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  feeling  of  sympathy  with 
the  pirates,  rendered  duties  very  un- 
pleasant, and  tended  to  lower  my  dignity 
as  a  Christian  minister.  My  friends  felt 
afflicted.  They  knew  that  I  was  in  a 
false  position,  and  the  "Countrepart"  took 
occasion  to  make  remarks  prejudicial 
to  me.  Still  my  friends  did  not  turn 
against  me. 

December  9— Dispatch  came  in  refer- 
ence to  the  Chesapeake  taken  by  pirates. 

December  10— Spent  all  day  in  sending 
dispatches  and  official  letters.  Called 
upon  Dr.  Tupper  to  see  about  the  arrest 
of  the  pirates.    Addressed  him  officially. 

December  11— Dispatches  to-day  pretty 
plenty.  Learned  all  about  the  Chesa- 
peake.    She  is  at  St.  Marys. 

December  12— Called  upon  Mr.  Johnson 
to  see  about  the  Chesapeake.  He  wants 
proof,  which  I  have  promised  him. 

December  14— Officially  applied  to  the 
Government  to  seize  Chesapeake.  Gov- 
ernment considered  the  matter  and  re- 
fused to  interfere.  This  was  owing  prob- 
ably to  secession  proclivities. 

December  15 — The  Ella  and  Annie 
came  into  the  harbor.  Met  Lieutenant 
Nichols  and  arranged  for  coal,  pilot,  etc. 
Met  Nichols  and  Dr.  Davis  of  Liverpool, 
N.  S.,  whom  I  sent  for  to  identify  the 
pirates  at  my  house.  Went  to  Cunards 
and  settled  bills  by  giving  order  on  the 
United  States. 

December  16— Dr.  Davis  made  out  affi- 
davit against  pirate  Braine-Heard  of 
Chesapeake  at  Sambro.  Telegraphed  to 
Lieutenant  Nichols  to  proceed  to  Sambro 
and  take  possession  of  vessel. 

December  17— To-day  the  United  States 
gunboat  Dacotah  and  war  steamer  Ella 
and  Annie  came  into  port  with  the  prize 
Chesapeake.  Worked  at  office  till  12 
o'clock  at  night.  Diplomacy  has  now 
commenced.  We  shall  see  what  we 
shall  see. 


December  18— At  office  early  and  com- 
menced diplomacy.  Borrowed  on  the 
faith  of  Government  $100  of  Mr.  Cunard. 
Telegraphed  for  Jackson  to  come  home 
by  next  steamer. 

December  19— Received  a  dispatch  from 
Washington  approving  our  course  with 
the  Chesapeake.  Delivered  up  the  pris- 
oner at  half-past  1  o'clock,  according  to 
arrangement  between  the  two  govern- 
ments, when  the  citizens  hustled  him 
away  by  force. 

Sunday,  December  20— My  people  ter- 
ribly tried  by  my  being  Consul  and  hav- 
ing all  these  troubles  come  upon  me. 

December  21— All  day  in  the  Consul's 
Office  preparing  papers  for  report  of 
correspondence  in  reference  to  the  Chesa- 
peake. Much  excitement  about  town. 
All  sorts  of  reports  afloat.  My  people 
feel  bad  about  my  being  mixed  up  with 
it. 

December  22— At  Consulate  to-day. 
Arranged  report  and  sent  it  to  Wash- 
ington. Received  telegram  from  Seward. 
Wrote  Dr.  Tupper  a  letter  informing  him 
that  1,000  rifles  were  on  their  way  from 
New  York. 

December  23— Put  myself  in  communi- 
cation with  the  Government.  Stated  to 
them  the  fact  that  1,000  rifles  were  On 
their  way  from  New  York  to  Halifax, 
and  I  greatly  feared  for  the  safety  of 
the  Chesapeake. 

December  24— To-day  closes  my  offi- 
cial career  at  the  Consulate,  making  51 
working  days,  for  wThich  I  have  taken 
$51.  

The  war  has  dragged  its  slow  length 
along.  The  Unionists  have  steadily 
gained  ground  and  the  Rebels  have  held 
on  with  desperation.  We  have  been  sit- 
uated amid  rebel  sympathizers  and  have 
found  our  position  in  this  respect  very 
unpleasant.  The  press  has  done  its  ut- 
most to  keep  the  people  deceived  in 
reference  to  the  state,  of  the  war,  its 
origin  and  progress.  A  terrible  retribu- 
tion awaits  this  city  of  Halifax  for  its 
complicity  in  treason  and  piracy. 

During  the  past  year  we  have  been 
especially  afflicted  in  the  removal  from 
earth  to  heaven  of  our  dear  sister  So- 


phia,  the  youngest  of  the  family  of  ten, 
and  peculiarly  near  us,  having  been  a 
member  of  our  family  for  nearly  a  dozen 
years.  She  died  fully  in  the  faith  of 
meeting  her  husband  and  child  in  the 
better  world. 

Ibaltfaj,  W.  SM  1864. 

January  11— At  Consul's  Office  settling 
up  Chesapeake  affair.  Old  fogyism  got 
a  tumble  down.  Johnson  had  to  suc- 
cumb. 

February  16— Spent  the  evening  at  Mr. 
Jackson's  in  company  with  the  Chesa- 
peake crew.  An  oyster  supper  in  honor 
of  the  triumph  over  the  secesh  govern- 
ment. 

March  18— The  Chesapeake  sailed  for 
Portland. 

August  23— Arrived  at  Portland  and 
went  at  once  to  Westbrook  with  the 
boys. 

October  2— Preached  at  Tufts  College 
in  morning  and  School  Street  in  after- 
noon. 

Summary— Preached  82  sermons.  Was 
absent  from  home  nine  weeks — two  in 
Minudie  and  seven  in  the  States.  At- 
tended the  convention  in  Concord,  N.  H., 
visited  friends  in  Massachusetts  and 
looked  about  the  country  for  a  final  set- 
tlement. In  May  I  called  the  society  to- 
gether and  proposed  to  them  to  release 
me  at  the  end  of  fifteen  months,  and  call 
Mr.  Kent  to  fill  my  place.  Mr.  Kent  is 
a  young  man  and  a  native  of  this  prov- 
ince, of  much  promise.  The  society 
raised  for  him  $100  as  a  loan,  and  voted 
to  invite  him  to  fill  my  place  at  the 
close  of  his  preparatory  course  at  Can- 
ton, N.  Y.  This  arrangement  was  con- 
sidered a  good  one,  and,  so  far  as  I 
have  heard,  satisfactory  all  around. 
So  I  find  that  I  shall  be  permitted  to 
return  to  my  native  land  at  the  time 
mentioned. 

Some  of  our  valued  friends  have  been 
called  to  the  higher  life.  Father  Sea- 
man, the  patriarch  of  Minudie,  whose 
plantation  I  had  visited  annually  for 
seven  years,  was  called  home  in  Septem- 
ber, while  I  was  away  from  the  Prov- 


inces, and  could  not,  therefore,  heed  the 
summons  to  attend  his  funeral. 

The  terrible  Rebellion  in  my  own  dear 
country  still  continues.  Oh,  the  suffer- 
ing of  that  dear  land.  Thousands  die 
upon  the  battlefield,  other  thousands  are 
starved  to  death  by  the  rebels  in  their 
prisons,  and  the  most  inhuman  treat- 
ment toward  our  soldiers  is  practised  by 
the  demons  in  the  South.  How  long 
this  fiendish  spirit  is  to  prevail  the  Lord 
only  knows.  Our  country  must  have 
sinned  fearfully  to  merit  such  terrible 
punishment. 

Ibaltfaj  ant)  IRorwap,  1865. 

During  the  year  I  preached  100  ser- 
mons and  made  more  than  500  parish 
calls.  In  the  month  of  March  I  called 
a  meeting  of  the  pewholders  in  my 
church  to  consider  the  subject  of  releas- 
ing me  from  pastoral  duties  after  the 
1st  of  May,  and  fulfilling  their  agree- 
ment with  Brother  Kent  made  more  than 
a  year  before.  I  was  informed  by  this 
meeting  that  a  few  persons  had  been 
in  league  with  A.  G.  L.  for  him  to  follow 
me,  notwithstanding  the  agreement  with 
Brother  Kent.  The  meeting,  therefore, 
was  not  so  harmonious  as  it  ought  to 
be.  By  this  development  of  feeling  I 
felt  it  my  duty  to  resign  at  once.  A  meet- 
ing was  called  to  act  upon  my  resig- 
nation. The  result  was  a  unanimous 
vote  to  request  me  to  remain  with  them, 
and  granting  me  a  leave  of  absence  of 
6  months.  After  due  consideration  of 
the  request  I  returned  an  answer  that 
I  would  remain  with  them  and  fully  de- 
termined to  do  so,  solely  for  the  good  of 
the  society.  Soon  after  the  President 
was  assassinated,  which  produced  a  feel- 
ing with  the  Provincials  generally  which 
made  my  stay  very  unpleasant.  I  re- 
mained until  the  1st  of  June,  and  then 
left  on  my  six  months'  vacation,  Brother 
Kent  supplying  my  place.  Just  before 
I  left  I  wrote  a  private  note  to  the  editor 
of  the  Universalist,  in  which  I  spoke  of 
the  Provincials  in  reference  to  their  con- 
duct on  the  occasion  of  the  assassination 
of  the  President.  This  note  the  editor 
incautiously    published,    which    enraged 


37 


the  Halifax  editors  to  such  a  degree 
as  to  make  them  vindictive  and  abusive. 

This  alone  decided  me  not  to  return 
to  Halifax  at  all.  I  deemed  my  mission 
then  ended,  and  requested  the  society  to 
release  me  from  all  engagements.  My 
friends,  who  are  numerous,  felt  that  it 
was  no  more  than  just  to  me  to  be  re- 
leased. Accordingly,  on  the  first  day  of 
November,  my  connection  with  the  so- 
ciety closed,  having  lasted  nearly  nine 
years.  I  must  record  that  I  never  spent 
a  term  of  pastoral  labor  more  pleasant- 
ly than  I  did  this  term.  I  went  to  the 
society  when  it  was  weak  and  built  it  up 
so  that  it  was  a  strong  society,  owning 
a  beautiful  church  and  having  all  the 
fixings  of  a  city  church.  I  have  not  a 
word  of  fault  to  find  with  the  society 
as  a  society.  There  are  noble  men  and 
glorious  women  not  a  few. 

While  supplying  Halifax  by  Brother 
Kent,  I  was  preaching  at  Paris  Hill  and 
Norway,  Me.,  and  after  supplying  for 
three  months,  I  engaged  to  become  their 
pastor  for  five  years  at  a  salary  of 
$1,000,  $600  of  which  was  to  be  paid  by 
the  Norway  people  and  $400  by  Paris 
Hill.  I  commenced  my  term  on  the  5th 
of  September.  There  being  no  suitable 
place  for  a  minister  to  reside  I  advised 
the  building  of  a  parsonage. 

IRorwap,  /IDC,  1866. 

I  bave  preached  159  sermons,  mar- 
ried 16  couples  and  made  200  parish 
calls.  In  addition  to  my  labors  as  pas- 
tor of  two  societies  I  have  had  charge 
of  all  the  schools,  and  visited  them 
twice  a  term.  My  children  have  all 
visited  us,  and  a  daughter  has  been 
added  to  our  family  in  the  wife  of  our 
eldest  son.  During  my  year  and  a  half 
residence  in  Norway  the  society  has 
built  a  parsonage  with  $1,600  and  raised 
the  church  and  put  a  hall  under  it  and  a 
steeple  on  the  church  and  other  improve- 
ments at  an  expense  of  $3,000.  This 
outlay  has  required  the  united  efforts 
of  the  people  and  constant  attention  of 
the  pastor.  The  pews  are  all  taken  and 
the  revenue  is  sufficient  to  cover  ex- 
penses. 


I  have  now  under  my  care  the  two 
societies  of  Paris  Hill  and  Norway,  also 
West  Paris,  where  I  preach  once  in  four 
weeks,  on  Sunday  evening;  Locke's  Mills, 
where  I  lecture  on  a  week  day  evening; 
Sumner,  where  I  lecture  on  Saturday 
evening  as  often  as  the  weather  will  al- 
low; North  Norway  once  a  week  day 
evening  once  a  month,  and  supply  the 
pulpit  at  Bridgton  all  the  time.  Thus 
my  time  is  all  taken  up,  and  more,  too. 
I  am  working  very  hard;  the  state  of  the 
cause  demands  it.  There  never  was  a 
time  when  the  people  were  as  earnest 
for  the  truth  as  now. 

I  feel  that  my  time  is  short  and  that 
I  must  work  with  all  my  might.  The 
harvest  is  great  and  the  laborers  are 
few. 

IRorwaE,  ADe.,  1867. 

The  year  past  has  been  one  of  mingled 
joy  and  sorrow,  rest  and  labor,  success 
and  failure,  just  like  those  years  that 
preceded  it.  I  have  not  lost  a  single 
day  by  sickness,  and  every  Sunday  I 
have  preached  one  or  more  sermons.  I 
have  preacbed  during  the  past  year  110 
sermons  and  lectures,  attended  35  fu- 
nerals, at  most  of  which  I  preached  a 
sermon  or  made  an  address  equal  to  a 
sermon,  and  married  12  couples  and 
made  more  than  150  parochial  calls. 
Served  on  School  Committee  and  at- 
tended to  bank  business  and  other  duties 
civic,   political,   moral   and   religious. 

It  is  the  habit  of  the  society  in  Nor- 
way to  put  all  the  labor  possible  onto 
the  shoulders  of  their  minister.  They 
want  him  to  do  all  the  work  and  take 
all  the  responsibilities  of  letting  the  pews 
and  raising  the  money,  etc. 

The  society  at  Paris  Hill  do  their  own 
work.  All  they  require  of  the  minister 
is  a  large  amount  of  visiting  and  good 
preaching.  I  have  preached  regularly 
on  the  Hill  Sunday  mornings  and  in 
Norway  in  the  afternons,  and  occasion- 
ally a  third  service  at  North  Norway 
and  West  Paris. 

During  the  year  a  society  and  Sunday 
school  was  organized  in  West  Paris, 
which  was  brought  about  by  my  efforts 


38 


at  Sumner.  A  new  church  was  built  and 
dedicated  during  the  year  as  the  result 
of  my  efforts  there  during  a  course  of 
lectures  given  on  week  day  evenings. 
The  house  was  dedicated  November  20, 
I  preaching  the  sermon.  The  pews  were 
all  sold  and  the  house  paid  for.  I  have 
attended  four  conferences,  one  associa- 
tion and  one  State  Convention,  preached 
an  occasional  and  one  dedicatory  sermon. 
Almon  spent  his  vacation  with  us.  Min- 
isters are  the  poorest  paid  of  any  class 
of  men.  Faith  constitutes  the  largest 
part  of  their  living.  Were  it  not  for 
their  sense  of  duty  and  responsibility 
together  with  a  conscious  regard  for 
the  good  of  their  fellow  men,  not  one 
in  ten  would  remain  in  the  ministry  six 
months. 

Worwai?  anfc  H>ejter,  1868. 

Preached  114  sermons  and  attended 
20  funerals.  Closed  my  engagement  at 
Norway  and  Paris.  Left  Norway  be- 
cause of  an  inadequacy  of  salary.  Came 
to  Dexter  on  an  increase  of  40  per  cent. 
Came  for  6  months  to  try  the  experi- 
ment of  reviving  this  dead  society.  Pros- 
pects pretty  good.  My  experience  in 
Norway  was  pleasant  for  3  years  and  3 
months.  I  found  them  in  a  demoral- 
ized state.  I  redeemed  the  society  and 
put  everything  in  first  rate  order,  so 
that  no  society  in  the  State  had  better 
accommodations,  and  then,  because  I 
thought  the  society  ought  to  pay  the 
minister  more  than  $000,  a  few  of  the 
leaders  were  made  for  a  time  my  ene- 
mies. 

While  in  Norway  I  got  up  a  Savings 
Bank  and  engineered  it  through,  and 
sustained  its  reputation  till  it  became  a 
power  in  the  village. 

I  served  on  the  School  Committee  and 
did  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  in  the 
interests  of  the  schools,  as  all  do  admit. 
I  here  record  it  as  my  experience  that 
Norway  is,  upon  the  whole,  a  good  so- 
ciety. My  salary  was  always  be- 
hind, and  few  favors  were  shown  us 
while  there.  There  are  a  great  many 
very  kind  and  good  friends  in  Norway 
whom  I  shall  always  love. 


Paris  Hill  had  its  attractions.  There 
are  good  friends  there.  They  did  what 
they  could,  but  they  are  few,  and  the  pay 
came  hard. 

In  June  went  to  Canton,  N.  Y.  Was 
present  at  Almon's  graduation  and  mar- 
riage.    Preached  at  Malone. 

Bejter,  /Be.,  1869. 

During  the  past  year  we  have  enjoyed 
a  great  many  comforts.  We  have  had  no 
sicknesses.  I  have  preached  every 
Sunday,  108  sermons,  attended  13  fu- 
nerals and  married  4  couples,  and  made 
over  100  parish  calls.  Served  on  the 
School  Committee  and  attended  to  my 
duties  promptly.  In  April  the  society 
in  Dexter  commenced  on  their  church 
and  continued  till  December  22,  when 
it  was  dedicated  by  appropriate  services. 
A  great  success  has  attended  my  min- 
istry in  Dexter.  The  society  was  dead 
and  in  one  year  and  three  months  it  has 
been  raised  to  a  living,  working,  active 
body.  A  church  worth  $12,000  has  been 
built,  and  the  congregations  have  in- 
creased greatly.  I  preached  in  Guilford 
14  Sundays.  The  congregations  have 
been  good  and  the  people  manifested  lib- 
erality truly  encouraging.  On  Christmas 
they  presented  me  with  a  valuable  gift. 

I  have  preached  also  in  Sangerville. 
Dover,  St.  Albans  and  Newport.  I  have 
exchanged  but  twice  during  the  year, 
once  with  my  son  and  once  with  Brother 
Quinby. 

We  have  worked  hard,  but  not  in  vain. 
We  have  had  but  few  annoyances.  One 
infidel  lifted  up  his  heel  because  his 
infidelity  was  rebuked,  and  tried  to  ex- 
cite a  feeling  against  me,  but  did  not 
succeed.  The  people  were  too  well 
grounded  in  Christian  faith  to  be  moved 
by  him. 

Infidelity  is  no  part  of  the  Univer- 
salist's  creed,  and  the  fewer  infidels  we 
have  in  the  ranks  the  better  for  us.  The 
older  I  grow  the  more  firm  do  I  become 
in  the  faith  of  the  religion  of  Christ. 
Universalism  is  what  this  wicked  world 
needs  before  it  can  be  saved  from  the 
practice  of  iniquity.     My  family   is  all 


39 


spared  to  me  save  one,   and   she   went 
to  the  spirit  home  a  long  time  ago. 

My  boys  are  each  pursuing  their  life's 
work  and  for  the  past  year  they  have 
been  blessed. 

H)eytert  /IDe.f  1870. 

January  16— Sick  to-day.  First  Sunday 
I  have  not  preached  for  a  number  of 
year's. 

September  12— Went  to  Westbrook  and 
spent  the  night  with  Walter. 

September  13— Went  to  Brewster. 
Stopped  with  Father  Foster.  Had  much 
trouble  with  my  leg. 

September  19— Went  to  Squam.  Cars 
full  of  delegates  to  the  Centenary  Con- 
vention in  Gloucester. 

September  20— My  leg  painful. 

September  21— Attended  meetings.  Es- 
timated 10,000  persons  were  on  the 
grounds  to-day.     Great  success. 

September  22  and  23  —  Remained  iu 
doors  on  account  of  my  leg. 

September  24  —  Almon  left  for  home 
quite  sick. 

September  28— Left  for  home. 

September  29— Spent  night  with  Almon 
in  Bath,  Me. 

September  30— Reached  home.  Not 
allowed  to  go  out  on  account  of  my  leg. 

November  12— (Walter  writes.)  Had  a 
shock  of  paralysis  at  Waterville.  Tele- 
graphed to  Almon  to  come  and  help  me 
home.     My  right  side  wholly  helpless. 

November  24— Came  down  stairs  for 
the  first  time. 

December  25—1  have  preached  one  dis- 
course in  Dexter  after  being  disabled  by 
paralysis  five  Sundays. 

December  11— Visited  Walter's  school 
in  Ripley  and  made  a  speech.  The  little 
boys  had  a  New  Year's  party  at  Dustin's. 
Mother  and  Herbert  attended  and  a  live- 
ly time  they  had. 

(No  summary  of  the  year  appears.) 

Better  a^  West  Matervtlle, 
1871. 

(This  was  the  last  diary.  But  little 
is  written  in  it.) 

Preached  in  Dexter.     I  am  still  under 


the  spell  of  paralysis  and  have  to  write 
with  my  left  hand,  and  yet  I  am  thank- 
ful to  begin  the  new  year  so  hopefully. 
I  am  improving,  thank  God. 

January  4  —  Herbert  sick  with  cold. 
Almon  sick  in  Bath. 

January  6— Herbert  sick  and  all  chores 
come  on  me.  Harnessed  my  horse  alone 
to-day. 

January  7— Almon  came  to-night  with 
Ella  and  Freddie. 

January  8 — Almon  preached  for  me. 

March  21 — Almon  Gage  come  to  sup- 
ply my  pulpit. 

April  16— Preached  for  Almon  in  Bath. 

(Father  had  a  second  shock  of  paraly- 
sis and  felt  obliged  to  resign  the  Dexter 
pulpit  and  accept  an  offer  at  a  smaller 
salary  to  preach  at  West  Waterville, 
Me.) 

May  10— Gave  up  my  house  in  Dexter. 

May  12— Last  night  in  Dexter.  Stopped 
at  Mr.  Bassett's. 

June  13— Came  to  my  new  settlement, 
West  Waterville.  Put  up  with  A.  Wins- 
low. 

August  4— Sent  Herbert  $175  to  put  in 
Dexter  Bank. 

(Mother  writes  in  the  diary  from  this 
time.) 

August  18— Arrived  at  Manila's. 

August  19 — Spent  the  day  in  getting 
ready  for  Rebecca's  wedding. 

August  20— Rebecca  Moffat  was  mar- 
ried. 

August  24 — Started  for  home  this 
morning.  Arrived  at  5  P.  M.;  found  all 
glad  to  see  me.  Husband  complained 
of  a  pain  in  his  stomach.  Retired  as 
usual.  At  3  o'clock  he  awoke  us,  in 
terrible  pain,  and  at  4  o'clock  his  spirit 
took  its  flight  to  the  better  land,  where 
for  nine  months  past  he  had  wished  to 
go.  Funeral  at  West  Waterville  Au- 
gust 25. 

August  26— Arrived  in  Abington  this 
morning  with  Walter,  and  at  2  P.  M. 
committed  to  earth  all  that  was  mortal 
of  my  dear  husband.  Marilla,  Almon, 
Willard  come  just  in  time  to  have  a  last 
look  on  their  father's  face. 

August  27— Spent  the  day  at  Maiden. 


40 


Brother  David  and  sister  so  kind  to  me 
and  mine. 

August  28— Took  the  cars  for  my  lonely 
home.  Found  my  tea  prepared,  washing 
done.    Very,  very  tired. 

August  29— This  morning  I  so  much 
missed  the  dear  face  and  the  clear  head 
to  tell  me  what  was  best  to  be  done. 
Walter  and  Herbert  took  up  carpets.  N 
and  Almon  came  this  evening. 

August  30— To-day  has  been  a  sad  one 
to  me,  and  never  to  be  forgotten.  The 
boys  tried  to  settle  thiugs,  but  found 
we  had  to  go  through  some  form  of  law. 

August  31— The  boys  began  to  pack 
up  my  things.  My  poor  heart  is  so  sad. 
The  way  looks  dark. 

September  2  —  The  boys  packed  this 
morning,  and  this  afternoon  went  and 
had  their  pictures  taken. 

September  3— Almon  preached  to-day. 
We  all  went  to  meeting.  A  sad  day  for 
me,  but  the  thought  was  pleasant  that 
the  dear  one  was  where  he  could  not 
tire  nor  be  weary  any  more. 

September  4 — The  boys  took  an  early 
start  for  Augusta.  Walter  packed  the 
organ.  I  had  a  new  girl  and  we  did  a 
hard  day's  work  getting  things  ready 
for  the  auction. 

August  5— This  morning  the  appraiser 
came  and  took  an  inventory  of  all  my 
goods,  and  I  took  the  oath  to  administer 
faithfully  upon  the  estate  of  my  hus- 
band. Sold  all  the  things  this  after- 
noon. Took  tea  and  spent  the  night 
with  Mrs.  Winslow. 

August  6— This  morning,  in  company 
with  N,  Almon  and  Herbert,  I  bid  adieu 
to  West  Waterville.  How  sad  was  my 
heart  to  leave  the  friends  that  had  been 
so  kind  to  me  and  mine.  I  felt  that  the 
good  Father  would  bless  them  for  all 
the  sacrifices  they  had  made  for  us. 

August  7— This  morning  arrived  at 
Manila's.  Wearied,  worn  and  sad.  The 
future  is  dark,  and  yet  I  know  that  a 
kind  Providence  will  shield  me  and  mine. 


August  8— N  and  Almon  left  me  this 
morning.  I  have  experienced  very  great 
loss  to-day.  My  dear  boys  I  kuow  will 
always  comfort  me,  and  for  this  I  will 
labor. 

October  5 — This  morning  Mrs.  Board- 
man,  Herbert  and  myself  went  to  visit 
the  grave  of  the  loved  one  in  Abington. 
It  was  a  day  long  to  be  remembered. 

October  6— Started  this  evening  for 
Canton,  N.  Y. 

October  14 — Arrived  safely  in  Canton. 
I  found  Ella  and  Freddie  all  well.  Think 
I  shall  like  my  new  home. 

October  10— Fitted  up  Walter's  room. 
Think  we  shall  make  it  seem  like  home. 

October  22— Went  to  church  and  liked 
much.  I  look  forward  to  much  pleasure 
in  my  new  home. 

October  23 — This  morning  while  wash- 
ing I  met  with  an  accident,  which  near- 
ly deprived  me  of  my  life.  A  sprain  of 
my  back.    Called  a  doctor. 

October  24— Very  sick,  Cannot  move 
myself. 

October  25— Still  sick. 

(And  this  ends  all  that  is  written  in 
the  diaries.— F.  N.  G.) 

Ube  preacber's  IRewarfc. 

In  the  back  of  the  book  in  which 
Nathaniel  Gunnison  wrote  the  story  of 
his  early  life  is  a  summary  of  the  in- 
come he  received  during  his  ministerial 
career.  In  1S38  he  received  $420;  1839, 
$580;  1840,  $740;  1841,  $500.  The  salary 
averaged  about  $500  a  year  until  1850, 
when  it  reached  $700,  and  1854  to  $900. 
While  in  Halifax  his  income  was  about 
$1,000  a  year.  While  in  Norway  it  was 
between  $1,300  and  $1,400,  and  in  Dex- 
ter it  reached,  in  1869,  $1,623.65,  the 
largest  income  he  ever  had  in  one  year. 

The  total  income  for  thirty-three  and 
one-half  years  was  $29,767.06,  an  average 
of  $S78  a  year. 


41 


IDeatb  of  tbe  IRev.  1R.  Gunnison 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Quinby,  editor  of  the 
Gospel  Banner,  wrote  the  following: 

"It  is  with  deep  sorrow  that  we  write 
the  above  heading.  On  Friday  morning, 
August  25,  between  the  hours  of  3  and  4 
o'clock,  at  his  home  in  West  Waterville, 
Brother  Gunnison  breathed  his  last,  and 
passed  on  to  the  higher  and  diviner  life, 
in  the  existence  of  which  he  so  strongly 
believed,  and  the  beauties  and  blessed- 
ness of  which  he  had  so  often  and  so 
eloquently  portrayed  in  the  presence  of 
others. 

"Some  ten  months  ago,  as  many  of  our 
readers  are  aware,  Brother  Gunnison  had 
a  shock  of  paralysis,  which  confined  him 
to  his  home  and  bed  for  a  while.  It  af- 
fected his  entire  right  side,  physically, 
but  left  his  mind  untouched.  He  soon  got 
so  as  to  walk  and  go  out  and  engage 
again  to  some  extent  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry;  but  not  feeling  adequate  to 
the  task  of  doing  all  that  the  condition 
of  the  large  parish  in  Dexter  demanded 
of  a  pastor  and  preacher,  he  wisely  de- 
cided to  surrender  his  charge  there  and 
labor  in  some  other  field  calling  for  less 
exertion.  On  hearing  of  his  intentions, 
his  old  friends  in  West  Waterville  gave 
him  a  very  urgent  invitation  to  move  at 
once  among  them  and  take  charge  of 
their  affairs.  The  village  is  a  quiet, 
rural,  beautiful  place,  the  society  reliable, 
and  he  immediately  accepted  the  call, 
removed  his  family  and  commenced  his 
work  as  preacher  and  pastor.  He  has 
always  been  a  man  of  indomitable  en- 
ergy. Large  as  he  was  in  person,  he 
managed  to  use  his  paralyzed  limb  in 
walking,  and  though  his  right  arm  and 
hand  were  useless,  he  employed  his  left 
in  writing,  and  soon  became  expert  in  the 
use  of  it  for  this  purpose.    Apparently  he 


was  just  as  earnestly  engaged  in  his 
work  as  a  minister  and  pastor  as  ever, 
and  as  faithful  to  all  the  interests  of  his 
profession.  He  visited  Portland  several 
times  to  be  treated  by  a  physician  there 
for  his  paralysis.  He  conceived  at  first 
that  this  man  was  substantially  benefit- 
ing him.  Six  weeks  ago  he  wrote  us  to 
this  effect.  Four  weeks  since  he  said  in 
a  letter  written  for  another  purpose,  that 
he  was  getting  along  finely,  and  had 
concluded  to  preach  in  Sidney— six  miles 
distant— in  the  afternoons.  But,  ten  days 
ago  the  tone  of  his  communications  was 
changed.  He  said  he  was  poorly— spoke 
of  a  nice  little  homestead  that  would 
come  within  his  means  which  he  had  of- 
fered him  in  Buxton,  near  the  railroad 
station,  and  asked  us  if  there  was  any 
opportunity  in  the  vicinity  for  him  to 
form  a  preaching  circuit,  if  he  should 
conclude  to  purchase  this  place. 

"Last  week,  on  Wednesday  and  Thurs- 
day, we  were  in  Springfield.  Vt,  in  at- 
tendance on  the  meeting  of  the  state 
convention  there.  We  wei'e  strongly 
urged  by  many  friends  to  remain  till  the 
next  day,  but  though  we  had  nothing 
special  or  pressing  to  call  us  home,  we 
felt  we  must  come.  Leaving  at  1  o'clock 
P.  M.,  we  arrived  in  Boston  at  7,  and, 
taking  the  night  express,  we  reached 
home  at  4  Friday  morning,  and  not  long 
after  received  a  dispatch  to  the  effect 
that  Brother  Gunnison  had  passed  away 
— that  he  would  be  buried  in  Abington, 
Mass.— that  his  funeral  service  would  be 
at  the  church  in  West  Waterville  at  5 
o'clock  that  afternoon,  and  we  were  de- 
sired to  be  pi'esent  to  officiate.  This 
was  the  first  word  we  had  received  of 
his  being  worse.  On  going  to  West 
Waterville  we  learned  from  his  afflicted 


42 


family  that  he  had  been  complaining 
only  a  few  days.  The  Sunday  previous 
he  preached  at  home  in  the  forenoon, 
stopped  at  the  Sunday  school  as  usual, 
but  iu  the  afternoon,  when  making  ready 
to  go  to  Sidney,  he  said  he  was  not  so 
well.  His  son  Walter,  who  was  at  home 
at  the  time,  urged  him  not  to  go,  but  he 
said  he  always  tilled  his  appointments— 
this  was  his  rule— and  he  went,  his 
younger  son  going  with  him  to  drive. 
He  preached  with  his  usual  freedom, 
made  a  call  or  two,  took  supper  and  re- 
turned home,  feeling  better  than  when 
he  left.  The  next  day,  Monday,  he  rode 
to  Waterville,  four  miles.  A  day  or  two 
after,  he  had  a  slight  attack  of  cholera 
morbus,  but  got  over  it.  On  Thursday 
he  felt  worse,  and  complained  more  than 
he  had  done  for  some  time.  The  after- 
noon train  from  the  west  brought  his 
wife,  who  had  been  absent  in  Massachu- 
setts a  few  days  mainly  to  attend  to 
some  business,  at  her  husband's  special 
request.  She  finished  her  business,  and, 
though  strongly  urged  to  remain  a  few 
days  and  make  a  more  extended  visit, 
she  felt  strongly  impelled  to  return.  When 
she  unexpectedly  came  into  the  room,  he 
seemed  exceedingly  pleased  to  see  her, 
and  told  her  he  was  glad  she  had  come, 
as  he  did  not  feel  as  well  as  usual;  com- 
plained of  distress  in  his  stomach  and 
chest.  This  distress  continued  to  in- 
crease and  a  physician  was  called  in  the 
night,  but  he  said  it  was  "of  no  use,"  he 
knew  "his  condition,"  he  was  "going." 
He  talked  to  his  children,  but  two  of 
whom  were  present,  as  rationally  as  ever 
to  the  last,  and  died  suddenly  at  the  time 
mentioned  above. 

"A  large  number  of  friends  were  pres- 
ent at  the  church  on  the  occasion  of  his 
funeral,  to  sympathize  with  the  bereaved 
and  testify  by  the  presence  the  respect 
in  which  they  held  the  departed.  The 
following  was  the  order  of  the  service  on 
the  sad  occasion: 

"Reading  of  appropriate  Scriptures,  by 
the  writer.  Reading  of  a  hymn  by  Rev. 
J.  O.  Skinner,  which  was  sung  by  the 
choir.  Prayer  by  the  writer.  Reading  of 
a  hymn  by  the  Free  Baptist  minister  of 


West  Waterville.  Address  by  the  writer. 
Closing  prayer  by  Rev.  J.  O.  Skinner. 
Closing  voluntary,  touchiugly  sung  by 
the  choir. 

"Many  were  the  tears  shed  on  the  oc- 
casion. The  large  congregation  had  op- 
portunity to  view  the  corpse,  after  which 
the  family  accompanied  it  to  West  Water- 
ville and  thence  to  Boston  on  the  night 
express.  Rev.  Dr.  Miner,  of  Boston,  was 
telegraphed  to  be  present  at  Abington, 
at  11  o'clock  on  Saturday,  to  perform  ap- 
propriate religious  service  there. 

"Rev.  Nathaniel  Gunnison  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Goshen,  N.  H.,  February  4, 
1811,  and  hence  was  rising  GO  years  of 
age.  His  father  and  mother  both  died 
before  his  remembrance,  and  his  strug- 
gles against  ill-health  and  poverty  were 
hard  in  early  life.  In  1834  he  married 
Sarah  Ann  Richardson,  of  Goshen,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Richardson.  In  1836  his 
wife  died,  leaving  an  infant  daughter, 
an  event  which  brought  him  much  sor- 
row and  a  train  of  thought  which  re- 
sulted in  his  resolving  to  give  his  life  to 
the  dissemination  of  a  faith  which  had 
sustained  and  comforted  him  in  the  hour 
of  his  deepest  affliction.  Rev.  A.  L.  Balch 
attended  the  funeral  of  his  wife,  and 
in  April,  1837,  Mr.  Gunnison  com- 
menced to  study  for  the  ministry  under 
his  direction.  His  first  settlement  was 
over  three  societies,  Brewster,  North 
Dennis  and  South  Dennis,  on  Cape  Cod, 
Mass.,  where  he  commenced  his  labors 
in  the  fall  of  1837.  He  was  ordained  on 
the  15th  of  November  that  year,  the  Rev. 
J.  M.  Spear  preaching  his  ordination 
sermon.  On  the  12th  of  August,  1838,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  A.  L.  Foster  of 
Brewster,  who  proved  a  most  faithful 
companion  in  all  the  relations  of  a  pas- 
tor's wife  to  the  hour  of  his  death.  The 
following  spring  he  accepted  a  call  to  be- 
come teacher  in  the  Academy  in  Prov- 
incetown,  where  he  was  also  to  preach 
half  of  the  time.  In  March,  1840,  he  was 
invited  to  take  charge  of  the  parish  in 
Manchester,  N.  H.  The  following  year 
he  visited  Hallowed,  Me.,  and  having 
a  pressing  invitation  to  remain  as  pas- 
tor, and  not  liking  in  Manchester,  he  did 


43 


so.  Here  he  continued  as  pastor  four 
years,  and  afterward  for  five  years  he 
preached  in  Sidney,  West  Waterville, 
East  Vassalboro',  "Winthrop,  and  other 
towns  in  the  vicinity,  still  residing  in 
Hallowell. 

"In  April,  1850,  he  removed  to  Alding- 
ton and  took  charge  of  the  society  there, 
where  he  remained  several  years,  doing 
an  excellent  work  for  Universalism,  not 
only  in  Abington,  but  in  all  that  sec- 
tion. He  then  received  and  accepted  a 
call  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
society  in  Halifax,  N.  S.,  where  he  re- 
mained, if  we  mistake  not,  nine  years, 
much  beloved,  and  where  during  the  war 
with  the  South,  he  acted  for  a  time  as 
agent  for  our  Government,  filling  the 
place  of  American  Consul. 

"From  the  above  it  Avill  be  seen  that 
Bro.  G.  worked  thirty-four  years  in  the 
vineyard  of  his  Master;  and  nobly  and 
faithfully  did  he  toil.  For  more  than 
thirty  years  were  we  personally  ac- 
quainted with  him.  Being  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  from  1846  to 
1862,  we  were  instrumental  in  his  re- 
moval to  the  neighboring  towns  of  Ab- 
ington, and  well  do  we  remember  with 
what  earnestness  he  worked  in  that  sec- 
tion for  the  furtherance  of  every  good 
cause  and  Christian  enterprise.  He  was 
not  only  highly  respected  but  much  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  him.  Among 
other  things,  he  got  the  people  to  go 
forward  in  laying  out  and  beautifying  a 
public  cemetery.  In  these  grounds  he  se- 
cured a  lot,  which  together  with  the  fact 
that  dear  relatives  and  friends  are  resi- 
dents of  the  place,  accounts  for  the  cir- 
cumstance of  his  burial  there. 

"We  are  making  this  notice  very  much 
longer  than  we  designed  and  yet  it  is  no 
more  protracted  than  the  love  we  felt 
for  our  Brother  would  dictate,  or  his  de- 
voted labors  in  behalf  of  our  holy  faith, 
demand.  He  and  the  editor  of  the 
Banner  entered  the  Gospel  field  as  fellow 
laborers  the  same  year;  we  have  ever 
known  him  to  be  a  true  and  uncompro- 
mising friend  of  Universalism.  He  has 
ever  manifested  a  cheerful  willingness 
to  labor  to  the  extent  of  his  ability— and 


but  few  men  are  more  able — for  the  pro- 
motion of  this  holy  faith.  In  its  de- 
fence he  lived;  and  for  its  furtherance 
he  gave  all  his  strength  and  at  last  life 
itself,  for  we  believe  that  the  arduous- 
ness  of  his  labors  and  anxiety  growing 
out  of  difficulties  arising  from  faith- 
fulness to  our  denominational  interests, 
hastened  the  physical  condition  which  re- 
sulted in  death.  With  the  Apostle  he 
might  have  exclaimed  in  all  truth:  "I 
have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished 
my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith,  Hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
of  righteousness  which  the  Lord  shall 
give  me." 

(From  the  "Universalist."  ) 

"He  was  a  man  of  decided  character 
and  indomitable  energy— a  great  worker 
and  successful  organizer.  He  was  a  per- 
son of  fine  social  qualities  and  owed 
much  of  his  success  to  the  facility  with 
which  he  drew  people  around  him  and 
attracted  them  to  him  personally.  As 
a  preacher,  he  was  noted  as  an  expounder 
of  the  doctrines  which  were  so  dear  to  his 
heart,  and  left  his  mark  behind  him,  in 
the  convictions  of  the  people  who  came 
under  his  teachings." 

(From  the  "Gloucester  Advertiser." ' ) 

"Mr.  Gunnison  was  in  Halifax  during 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  and  his  voice 
was  ever  for  the  right  in  that  hot-bed 
of  secession  sentiment.  The  value  of 
his  services  to  the  North  during  that 
period  can  hardly  be  overestimated." 

Uribute  of  a  Son. 

Almon  Gunnison  in  an  article  in  the 
Christian  Leader  on  the  work  of  the 
minister  thus  referred  to  Nathaniel  Gun- 
nison: 

"At  the  age  of  57,  the  pastor  of  whom 
we  speak  was  paralyzed.  Upon  the  early 
morning  of  the  Sabbath  the  secret  blow 
fell  upon  him,  but  yet  he  went  to  his 
work  and  with  half  his  body  dead  went 
through  with  his  Sabbath  service.  Then 


44 


came  the  weary  months  of  battling  with 
death.  Disease  was  stayed  by  the  vigor 
of  an  unconquerable  will,  and  dragging 
his  heavy  limb,  with  right  arm  lifeless 
at  his  side,  he  took  up  again  the  burden 

of  his  work The  other  day  in 

the  lumber  of  a  storage  room,  we  found 
the  old  trunk  which  contained  the  ser- 
mons of  this  veteran  preacher,  and  there 
upon  the  top  a  package  of  huge  MSS., 
written  in  rude  fashion,  unlike  the  sin- 
gularly clear  penmanship  of  the  remain- 
ing mass.  These  were  the  sermons  writ- 
ten after  the  full  shock  came  to  him, 
for  at  58  years  of  age,  finding  that  never 
again  could  the  accustomed  hand  hold 
the  pen,  the  old  man  had,  with  his  left 
hand,  learned  to  write,  and  until  the  last, 
week  by  week,  the  fresh  sermon  came 
quick  and  vital  from  a  brain  which 
would  not  cease  to  work." 


flDount  Demon  Cemetery, 
Bbfnston,  Bb&se, 

The  Abington  Journal,  1872,  contains 
an  article  on  the  history  of  Mount  Ver- 
non Cemetery,  in  which  appears: 

"By  the  record  books,  we  find  on  June 
22,  1852,  a  petition  was  presented  to  John 
King,  a  lawyer  and  justice  of  the  peace, 
containing  the  wants  of  100  citizens,  and 
asking  him  to  issue  a  warrant  for  a  pub- 
lic meeting,  to  take  some  action  upon 
the  matter.  The  petition  was  cumulated 
and  most  of  the  preliminary  work  was 
done  by  Rev.  N.  Gunnison,  who  was  then 
pastor  of  the  Universalist  church,  and 
whose  death  took  place  last  fall,  his  re- 
mains being  interred  in  Mount  Vernon 
Cemetery.  Indeed  it  may  be  truly  said  that 
it  was  through  his  efforts  that  this  work 
was  carried  to  a  successful  issue,  for  he 
worked  early  and  late,  and  his  influence 
gained  many  citizens  to  favor  the  pro- 
ject." 


45 


Enn  Xouisa  jfoster. 


Nathaniel  Gunnison's  second  wife,  Ann 
Louisa  Foster,  was  the  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Freeman  Foster  of  Brewster,  Mass., 
who  was  born  in  17S2  and  died  in  1S70. 
He  was  six  feet  tall  and  weighed  at  one 
time  250  pounds.  He  was  a  shipmaster, 
sailing  to  New  Orleans,  West  Indies, 
Liverpool  and  Russia.  He  was  set  and 
stern;  his  word  was  law  to  all  under  or 
near  him.  He  was  known  to  all  as  a 
strong,  reliable,  straightforward  man. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  converts  to 
Universalism  under  John  Murray  and 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  church  in 
Brewster.  He  married  Mehitable  Low, 
daughter  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

Ann  Louisa  Foster  was  the  seventh 
generation  from  Thomas  Foster,  who 
was  in  Weymouth,  Mass.,  before  1640, 
and  afterward  settled  in  Billerica,  Mass. 
She  was  the  ninth  generation  from  Elder 
William  Brewster  of  the  Mayflower.  She 
was  the  eighth  generation  from  Gover- 
nor Thomas  Prince,  many  years  governor 
of  Plymouth  Colony.  She  was  the  eighth 
generation  from  Edmund  Freeman,  who 
settled  in  Sandwich,  Mass.,  in  1635,  and 
who  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
in  the  colony.  It  is  said  that  her  grand- 
father, David  Foster,  served  under  Wash- 
ington at  Dorchester  Heights  in  the  early 
Revolutionary  days. 

The  children  of  Freeman  and  Mehitable 
Foster  were: 

Freeman,  born  1807,  died  1900. 

Mehitable  L.,  born  1808,  died  1894. 

David,  born  1810,  died  1897. 

Phebe  F.,  born  1812. 

Sarah  H.,  born  1814,  died  1893. 

Martha,  born  1817,  died  1899. 

Ann  Louisa,  born  April  15,  1819;  died 
October  22,  1S88. 

Lucretia,  born  1821. 

William  Low,  born  1822,  died  1876. 

Sophia,  born  1825,  died  1863. 


It  will  be  seen  that  this  was  a  family 
of  sturdy  constitutions.     They  nearly  all 
lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.     There  are  now 
(1901)  but  two  living.     The  members  of 
the  family  were  devoted  to  each  other. 
The   closest  and    most   tender   relations 
existed  between  the  husband  and  children 
of    Ann    Louisa  and   her   brothers   and 
sisters.     The  story  of  the  life  of  the  de- 
voted wife  of  Nathaniel  Gunnison  is  told 
in  the  story  of  his  life,  for  it  ran  along, 
side  by  side,  with  his.    She  was  his  com- 
panion and  wise  counselor  in  all  that  he 
did.     She  was  devoted  to  her  husband 
and  to  her  children;  she  was  remarkably 
faithful  and  efficient  as  a  pastor's  wife. 
When  her  husband  died  she  went  to  Can- 
ton, N.  Y.,  with  her  two  youngest  sons, 
to  give  them  a  home  while  they  were  ob- 
taining their  education.     Although  with 
but  small  income  she  was  able  to  live 
comfortably  and  to   care   for  her   sons. 
"When  her  children  left  Canton  she  broke 
up  her  home  with  the  intention  of  pass- 
ing the  remainder  of  her  life  with  her 
sons.     She  spent  one  winter  with  Foster 
N  in  Providence  and  a  few  months  with 
Walter  and  Herbert  in  Brooklyn,  in  the 
meantime  having  visited  friends  in  Hali- 
fax and  in  Maine.     In  the  summer  of 
1888  she  visited  her  sisters  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Brewster,  and  while  there 
was  taken  sick.    She  suffered  for  several 
months  from  what  was  supposed  to  be  a 
cancer  in  the  stomach.    She  was  patient 
and   hopeful   through    it   all.      She   was 
waited  upon  and  carefully  nursed  during 
nearly  her  entire  illness  by  some  one  or 
more  of  her  children,  and  by  her  sisters. 
Lucretia  and  Martha.     She  died  on  Octo- 
ber  22,    and    was    buried    in    Abington 
Mass.,  beside  the  remains  of  her  husband 
her  four  sons,  as  pall  bearers,  tenderlj 
carrying  the  body  from  place  to   place 
and  finally  depositing  it  in  the  grave.    A 


46 


kinder,  more  faithful  and  loving  mother 
never  lived. 

The  following  tributes  to  her  memory 
appeared  in  the  Christian  Leader: 

fln  flDemorlam. 

flDrs.  Hnn  %.  (Bunntson 

The  Christian  Leader  made  announce- 
ment, in  a  recent  issue,  of  the  death  of 
this  lady,  at  Brewster,  Mass.  She  died 
at  the  old  homestead  where  she  was 
born  and  from  which  she  went  forth, 
fifty  years  ago,  at  her  marriage  to  one 
of  the  clergymen  of  our  Church,  the  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Gunnison.  As  a  pastor's  wife 
she  lived  in  Provincetown,  Abington, 
Annisquam,  Mass.;  Hallo  well,  Norway, 
Dexter  and  Waterville,  Me.,  and  Hali- 
fax, N.  S.  She  was  thoroughly  in  sym- 
pathy with  her  husband's  work,  possess- 
ing a  deep  religious  nature  and  being 
ardently  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the 
Universalist  Church.  She  was  indefati- 
gable in  labors  and  possessed  a  ready 
tact  and  a  kindly  sympathy  that  made 
her  admired  and  loved  by  the  churches 
where  her  husband  ministered. 

On  the  death  of  her  husband  in  1871, 
she  moved  to  Canton,  N.  Y.,  in  order  to 
educate  her  sons  in  St.  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity. One  of  them  becoming  a  pro- 
fessor in  the  college,  she  continued  her 
residence,  remaining  there  for  fourteen 
years.  The  professors  many  of  them 
had  been  her  own  and  her  husband's 
friends  in  other  years,  and  her  life  there 
was  full  of  delight  to  her,  and  crowded 
with  helpful  activities  for  others.  She 
was  the  friend  of  every  good  cause;  the 
friendless  students  found  in  her  mother- 
ly sympathy;  her  home  was  ever  open  to 
them,  and  her  genial  and  sympathetic 
nature  went  out  in  continuous  blessing 
to  those  who  needed  help  and  guidance. 
One  who  knew  her  intimately  in  those 
days,  President  Cone  of  Buchtel  College, 
thus  writes  of  her:  "We  retain  in  mem- 
ory a  vivid  and  charming  picture  of  her, 
as  we  knew  her  then— the  benignant 
gray-haired  mother,  interested  in  all 
young  people,  the  ready  helper,  the  zeal- 
ous Universalist,   alive  to  all  that  con- 


cerned the  Church  and  the  school.  It 
was  always  a  benediction  to  go  to  her 
house  and  sit  awhile  in  her  cheerful  pres- 
ence. One  went  away  with  his  estimate 
of  the  sweetness  and  worth  of  life  height- 
ened and  his  best  aims  quickened  and 
encouraged." 

Since  her  removal  from  Canton,  she  has 
resided  with  her  sons  in  Providence  and 
Brooklyn.  She  retained  the  vigor  of  her 
youth  and  her  friends  had  expectation  of 
many  years  of  life  for  her.  Visiting  her 
sisters  in  Brewster  in  July,  she  was  taken 
sick,  and  for  three  months  suffered  great- 
ly but  with  heroic  patience.  All  that 
loving  care  could  do  was  done  for  her, 
but  in  faith  and  resignation  she  passed 
on,  on  October  22. 

Her  funeral  services  were  conducted 
by  Rev.  Messrs.  Donald  Fraser  and  H.  N. 
Couden,  who  had  known  and  loved  her. 
Her  burial  took  place  at  Abington,  Mass., 
where  her  husband  is  interred.  Though 
thirty  years  had  elapsed  since  her  resi- 
dence there,  the  ladies  of  the  church  who 
remembered  and  loved  her,  decorated 
the  church  with  leaves  and  flowers; 
friends  came  from  near  and  far,  and  with 
sweet  song  and  tender  appreciative  words 
from  Rev.  B.  F.  Bowles,  the  last  rites 
of  love  were  rendered,  and  then  her  four 
boys  with  loving  hands  took  all  that  was 
mortal  of  her,  and  laid  it  tenderly  to  rest 
beside  the  dust  of  the  father  who  had 
preceded  her  into  the  life  beyond. 

She  possessed  a  spirit  of  unusual  sun- 
niness,  having  the  largest  faith  in  hu- 
manity and  quick  sensitiveness  to  others' 
needs.  She  would  neither  speak  in  de- 
traction of  others  nor  listen  to  unkindly 
censure  of  them,  and  her  life  went  out 
through  all  its  years  in  blessing  to  her 
fellows.  The  weary  and  heavy-laden 
came  to  her,  and  if  she  could  not  take 
the  burden  from  them  she  gave  them 
strength  to  bear  it.  Her  memory  is  a 
precious  possession  to  those  who  came 
within  the  influence  of  her  gracious  pres- 
ence, and  the  remembrance  of  her  good- 
ness is  as  a  healing  balm! 

Two  brothers  and  five  sisters  survive, 
one  of  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  Rev. 
C.    A.    Bradley.      She    also    leaves    one 


47 


daughter  and  four  sons,  one  of  whom  is 
Rev.  Dr.  Gunnison  of  Brooklyn.— The 
Christian  Leader. 

Ubc  late  fTDrs.  Hnn  %.  ©unntson. 

Appreciative  mention  has  already 
been  made  in  these  columns  of  this  ex- 
cellent woman;  but  on  behalf  of  her 
friends  in  Canton,  where  she  recently 
lived  and  was  held  in  great  esteem,  an- 
other word  seems  appropriate.  Mai-ked 
traits  of  Mrs.  Gunnison  were  good  sense 
and  cheerfulness.  She  carried  an  atmos- 
phere of  "sweet  content"  wherever  she 
went.  She  was  more  than  a  useful  wom- 
an—she was  helpful.  She  did  her  full 
share,  and  a  little  more,  and  never  criti- 
cised nor  complained.  The  experience 
she  had  gained  as  a  pastor's  wife  was 
used,  without  offieiousness,  to  make  one 
of  the  rarest  parishioners.  We  have 
missed  her  much  since  she  ceased  to  be 
seen  in  our  streets,  and  welcomed  in  our 
homes  and  expected  at  all  our  meet- 
ings. Her  death  is  a  bereavement  to  us, 
though  we  know  it  is  deliverance  and 
peace  to  her.  Such  true,  helpful,  genial 
souls,  such  pure,  unpretentious  and  con 
secrated  lives,  are  the  real  treasures  of 
earth.  To  their  friends  left  behind  they 
are  treasures  in  heaven. — I.  M.  Atwood. 

(From  the  "Gospel  Banner." ) 

"She  was  a  woman  of  the  highest 
character,  great  patience  and  devoted  at- 
tachment to  her  church.  She  was  an 
ideal  minister's  wife,  and  was  greatly 
beloved  by  her  husband's  parishes.     She 


was  singular  in  this,  that  she  never  spoke 
an  ill  word  of  any  one,  and  would  not 
permit  a  word  of  detraction  spoken  of 
any  person  in  her  presence." 


poster  in  (Bunnfson's  Bame. 

The  younger  generation  may  not  know 
that  the  name  given  to  Nathaniel  Gun- 
nison's eldest  son  was  simply  the  letter 
N.  It  will  be  noticed  in  the  extracts 
from  the  diaries  that  whenever  this  son 
is  referred  to  he  is  called  "N".  After 
N  became  of  age  he  found  that  this 
name  created  so  much  confusion  that  he 
applied  to  the  courts  for  the  name  of 
Poster,  and  since  then  his  name  has 
been  Foster  N  Gunnison.  The  explana- 
tion of  this  peculiar  name  is  given  by 
Foster  as  follows: 

For  25  years  I  went  by  the  name  of 
N.  Have  heard  father  say  that  mother 
wanted  me  named  Nathaniel,  but  he 
said  he  had  always  been  called  "Nat" 
and  he  was  bound  to  have  a  name  for 
me  that  could  not  be  nicknamed,  etc. 
Father  always  had  to  write  a  note  to 
my  school  mistresses  explaining  to  them 
that  "N"  was  all  the  name  I  had.  The 
way  of  it  was,  mother  wanted  Nathaniel, 
father  something  short.  Some  of  the  stu- 
dents at  Provincetown  said:  "Make  it 
N— (the  letter  father  always  signed  as 
his  name)— that  will  suit  Mrs.  Gunnison, 
as  it  is  named  after  Mr.  Gunnison,  and  it 
will  suit  Mr.  Gunnison,  it  being  short  and 
cannot  be  nicknamed."  So  they  gave  me 
that  as  a  name,  but  called  me  "Ennie." 


48 


ANN  LOUISE  GUNNISON 


H  tribute  to  jfatber  anb  flfeotber 

By  their  son,  the  Rev.  Almon  Gunnison,  D.D. 


Jfatber. 

Each  of  our  parents  had  a  marked 
personality.  Unlike  in  temperament  and 
disposition,  they  were  sympathetic  with 
each  other  and  well  mated.  Father  was 
a  man  of  striking  appearance.  In  his 
early  manhood  he  was  known  far  and 
wide  as  a  very  handsome  man.  Upward 
of  six  feet  in  height,  broad  shouldered 
and  massive,  with  small  hands  and  feet, 
high  forehead,  delicate  complexion  and 
soft  curling  hair.  In  my  school  days  I 
visited  his  old  home  in  Goshen  and  saw 
many  people  who  had  known  him  in  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  and  the  fre- 
quent remark  was  made,  "Your  father 
was  a  very  handsome  man,"  a  few  old 
ladies,  whose  sight  doubtless  was  a  little 
the  worse  for  wear,  being  so  uncompli- 
mentary as  to  remark,  "You  will  never 
be  as  handsome  a  man  as  your  father 
was."  My  recollection  of  him  in  his  later 
years  is  of  a  portly  man,  carefully 
dressed,  walking  with  dignity  through 
the  streets  of  Halifax,  strangers  often 
turning  to  look  at  him,  because  he  bore 
the  mark  of  distinction. 

He  was  a  generous  liver  and  it  is  not 
wholly  due  to  the  zest  of  boyish  appe- 
tite that  we  children  recall  with  longing 
the  old  home  table.  He  was  compan- 
ionable, humorous  rather  than  witty,  a 
friend  maker  and  keeper.  He  saw  the 
funny  side  of  life  and  was  quick  to 
detect  the  oddities  of  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  When  a  finicky 
spinster  once  called  upon  him,  to  sug- 
gest that  the  theolgy  of  his  sermons 
needed    a    little    softening,    he    blandly 


asked  her  into  his  study,  seated  her 
at  his  desk  and  with  a  graciousness  that 
was  Chesterfieldian,  sweetly  said,  "There 
is  the  pen,  pray  you  write  the  sermon." 
With  another  who  was  rendered  some- 
what critical  by  an  unduly  protracted 
period  of  unwelcome  spinsterhood,  he 
replied,  when  she  said  his  sermons  were 
too  long,  "I  will  give  you  my  scissors 
and  you  shall  cut  them  off,  but  I  shall 
want  to  use  the  same  shears  to  cut  off 
your  tongue,  which  is  afflicted  with  the 
same  trouble."  In  the  suburbs  of  Nor- 
way, he  called  one  day  on  a  worthy 
farmer,  who  was  outside  of  his  parish, 
except  on  the  occasion  of  the  somewhat 
numerous  funerals  of  his  family.  Father 
had  attended  two  in  the  family  within  a 
short  time.  Driving  up  one  day,  with 
one  of  the  children,  to  see  the  family,  he 
was  thanked  with  effusive  gratitude  for 
his  kindness  in  its  bereavement.  The 
man  said,  I  ought  to  have  called  upon 
you  and  paid  you  for  your  services,  but, 
said  he,  with  unctuous  generosity,  I 
have  put  something  in  your  wagon.  Gn 
starting  for  home  father  found  the  bot- 
tom of  the  buggy  covered  with  cucum- 
bers. He  had  in  his  own  rocky,  side- 
hill  garden  at  home  an  over  supply  of  the 
same  vegetables,  which  were  merrily  yel- 
lowing in  the  sun  and  when  the  home- 
ward bound  buggy  was  out  of  sight  of 
the  farmer's  house,  with  great  laughter, 
father  took  the  cucumbers  one  by  one 
and  fired  them  at  the  forest  trees,  send- 
ing with  each  shot  a  remark  personal  to 
the  donor,  which,  had  he  heard,  would 
have  made  his  blood  less  cool  than  the 
proverbial   coolness  associated  with  the 


49 


cucumbers  which  were  so  ruthlessly 
squandered. 

He  had  singular  business  sagacity  and 
was  an  adviser  of  business  men,  having 
insight  rather  than  shrewdness  and  a 
sort  of  natural  divination,  which  would 
have  made  him  unquestionably  success- 
ful had  he  followed  a  business  life.  He 
greatly  increased  the  fortunes  of  several 
of  his  friends  in  Halifax  by  urging  them 
to  invest  in  United  States  securities.  He 
was  consulted  by  men  in  trade,  by  women 
in  making  investments,  by  those  who 
planned  new  enterprises,  and  his  advice 
was  seldom  at  fault. 

He  drew  countless  wills,  he  pushed  on 
the  timid  and  restrained  the  rash,  was 
sagacious  in  counsel,  sympathetic  in  mis- 
fortune, a  friend  to  those  in  any  need. 
He  planned  the  Mount  Vernon  Cemetery 
at  Abington,  and  financed  it;  established 
the  Savings  Bank  at  Norway  and  was  its 
successful  president;  he  built  churches; 
reconstructed  them  in  other  places;  plan- 
ned large  enterprises  in  the  towns  and 
cities  where  he  lived,  doing  everything 
with  a  conservatism  which  left  no  fail- 
ures for  others  to  repair.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  courage.  No  titled  lord 
could  intimidate  him  and  no  threatened 
personal  violence  deter  him  from  his 
course.  In  the  Chesapeake  affair,  he 
waited  on  his  excellency  the  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant Governor.  His  lordship  was  at 
dinner  and  sent  back  word  to  the  Ameri- 
can consul  that  he  could  not  be  disturbed. 
Father  said  to  the  imperial  butler,  go 
back  and  give  this  card  to  the  Governor. 
On  the  card  were  these  words:  "This  is 
no  time  for  ceremony.  I  have  important 
business.  You  come  out  to  me  or  I  shall 
come  in  to  you."  The  Governor  came, 
and  the  Yankee  minister  read  him  some 
lessons  in  American  short-cut  diplo- 
macies which  were  not  included  in  the 
official  books. 

I  was  with  him  once  during  the  war 
on  a  Bay  of  Fundy  steamer.  A  loud- 
mouthed secessionist  was  speaking  in  the 
cabin  against  the  North  to  a  group  of 
sympathizers.  The  Northerners  who 
were  trying  to  answer  him  were  less  glib 
of     tongue.    I    went    and    found    father 


and  told  him  he  was  needed.  He  saun- 
tered in  and  took  up  the  contest.  His  at- 
tack was  as  decisive  as  it  was  direct. 

"You  are  no  doubt  a  fugitive  who  has 
run  away  from  his  country  to  escape  the 
draft.  We  have  no  use  for  such  traitors 
in  tli  is  country.  We  respect  men  who 
stand  by  their  flag."  There  was  a  silence 
which  could  be  felt.  The  man  was  of 
immense  size.  He  glared  at  his  accuser, 
livid  with  rage,  and  said:  "If  it  was 
not  for  your  white  choker  I  would  strike 
you."  With  a  smile,  father  replied,  "We 
will  waive  the  white  choker  for  the  mo- 
ment; don't  let  that  deter  you.  You  are 
a  coward  and  cowards  and  bullies  never 
strike."  And  then  father  gave  the  man 
such  a  scoring  as  he  never  had  had;  going 
over  the  issues  of  the  war  and  address- 
ing the  passengers  as  well  as  the  man, 
gave  reasons  why  the  North  would  suc- 
ceed and  ought  to.  When  he  had  talked 
him  into  silence,  he  turned  away.  I 
loitered  behind.  The  bully  said,  as  he  re- 
covered himself:  "Who  is  that  man?" 
"The  American  Consul  at  Halifax,"  said 
a  bystander.  "Good  God,"  replied  the 
man,  "I  am  a  fool.  I  am  here  to  buy 
goods  and  I  cannot  get  a  thing  out  of 
the  provinces  without  his  signature."  He 
subsequently  hunted  up  father,  made  his 
apologies,  had  a  very  uncomfortable  half 
hour  on  a  very  hard  stool  of  repentance 
and  at  length  made  his  peace. 

Once  in  Abington,  fearing  that  there 
had  been  a  premature  burial  of  a  person 
whose  funeral  he  had  tended,  he  rose  at 
midnight  and  went  to  the  receiving  vault, 
where  the  body  was  deposited  and  opened 
the  casket,  and  then  calmly  came  home 
and  went  to  bed. 

He  was  a  man  of  singular  integrity. 
His  sense  of  honor  was  a  sort  of  second 
conscience.  He  abhorred  debt,  was  scru- 
pulous in  keeping  his  word  and  his  en- 
gagements and  could  not  be  coaxed  into 
any  transaction  which  was  not  honest  to 
the  last  degree.  He  carried  this  spirit 
into  all  his  public  career.  He  could  not 
utter  a  lie,  and  while  he  was  a  debater 
of  great  strength  and  rare  agility,  he 
could  never  be  tempted  to  take  an  unfair 
advantage  of   a   sophism,   dearly  as   he 


50 


loved  to  win  in  a  controversy.  The  half 
cent  of  the  bargain  always  went  to  the 
other  man,  and  if  he  was  not  quite  sure 
where  the  hard  end  of  the  load  belonged, 
he  put  his  own  shoulder  beneath  it. 

In  his  public  career,  he  was  pre-em- 
inently the  clergyman.  With  a  business 
sagacity  which  would  have  made  him 
rich,  he  resisted  every  business  allure- 
ment and  kept  his  eye  single  to  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  of  commanding  appear- 
ance in  the  pulpit,  an  impressive  speaker, 
making  thorough  preparation  for  his  pul- 
pit services,  clear  in  his  thought,  logical 
in  arrangement,  plain  and  simple  in 
presentation.  His  sermons  convinced  and 
were  remembered.  After  the  lapse  of 
many  years,  persons,  not  a  few,  have 
spoken  to  me  of  sermons  preached  by 
him  which  they  recalled. 

His  work  was  done  in  what  may  be 
called  the  controversial  era  of  his 
church,  and  so  intense  was  he  in  his 
religious  belief  that  it  was  not  possible 
for  him  to  avoid  controversy.  He  did  not 
seek  to  shun  it,  but,  on  the  contrary,  he 
loved  a  religious  debate  as  he  loved  his 
life.  His  happiest  moments  were  when 
he  was  in  debate.  He  was  serene  with 
one  antagonist,  happy  with  two,  radiant- 
ly jubilant  if  he  were  pitted  against  a 
dozen.  The  favorite  recreation  for  his 
vacations  was  to  get  a  horse  and  a  bun- 
dle of  handbills  and  start  for  the  coun- 
try, and  in  school  houses,  churches,  town 
halls,  give  his  message,  inviting  ques- 
tions and  answering  objections.  If  he 
could  be  locked  out  of  a  public  hall  and 
be  compelled  to  wait  for  the  key  or 
speak  from  the  steps,  he  was  joyous,  and 
he  was  wont  to  use  the  occasion  to  point 
a  moral  and  adorn  a  tale.  He  was  skill- 
ful in  debate,  resourceful,  nimble  witted, 
strong  and  clear  in  statement,  persua- 
sive and  convincing.  He  converted  men 
by  his  reasoning  and  was  an  opponent 
rarely  attacked  a  second  time  by  the 
same  person. 

The  story  of  his  many  missionary 
tours,  as  written  in  the  denominational 
press,  is  thrilling  in  its  adventures  and 
incidents.    Once,  as  he  left  a  hospitable 


home  at  which  he  had  stopped  for  a  noon- 
day lunch,  the  hosts,  who  had  been  at- 
tracted by  his  fine  appearance  and  his 
engaging  talk,  said  to  him:  "We  are 
curious  to  know  who  you  are."  Father 
replied:  "I  think  I  will  not  tell  you.  If 
you  knew  who  I  am  you  would  be 
sorry  that  you  had  so  hospitably  enter- 
tained me."  "I  do  not  think  so,"  re- 
plied the  host.  "We  are  sure  you  are  a 
good  man."  "I  am  called  a  very  bad 
man,"  replied  father.  "I  am  a  heretic. 
I  am  the  Universalist  minister  in  Hali- 
fax." "Thank  God,"  replied  the  woman. 
"My  prayer  is  answered.  I  have  prayed 
God  that  I  might  see  you  that  I  might 
know  if  you  could  give  me  any  hope  for 
my  poor  boy  who  died  a  year  ago."  The 
horse  was  turned  back  into  the  barn, 
and  through  all  the  afternoon  the  preach- 
er sat  with  the  father  and  mother,  with 
Bible  in  hand,  giving  them  hope  and  com- 
fort, leaving  behind  him,  when  he  went 
away,  two  happy  people,  who  blessed 
him  for  changing  their  tears  into  a  joy- 
ful faith.  The  next  year,  when  father 
made  his  missionary  tour,  this  couple 
was  present  at  one  of  his  meetings,  hav- 
ing driven  twenty-four  miles  to  see  and 
hear  him. 

He  was  very  quick  at  repartee.  Re- 
turning one  night  to  his  hotel  after  a 
long  and  stormy  meeting,  in  which  the 
clergy  were  prominent  and  aggressive, 
he  was  followed  by  the  clerical  portion 
of  his  audience  and  not  a  few  of  the 
people.  Father  was  tired  and  wished 
to  retire.  One  of  the  ministers  said: 
"If  I  were  a  Universalist  I  would  lie 
and  steal  and  murder.  There  is  no  crime 
I  would  not  commit."  Father  rose  with 
great  dignity  and,  taking  his  lamp  in  his 
hand,  said:  "My  dear  sir,  I  have  no  doubt 
you  are  just  as  bad  a  man  as  you  say 
you  are  and  that  were  it  not  for  the  fear 
of  hell,  your  natural  instincts  would  as- 
sert themselves,  and  you  would  commit 
all  the  crimes  which  you  admit  you  de- 
sire to  do.  God  permits  you  to  hold  your 
belief   as   a   protection   for   society.     He 


51 


may  suddenly  take  your  fear  away  and 
your  natural  depravity  may  assert  itself. 
I  have  a  watch  and  some  money  about 
my  person.  My  life  is  of  value  to  my 
family,  and  common  prudence  suggests 
that  I  take  myself  out  of  the  presence  of 
a  man  who  is  so  bad  as  you  confess  your- 
self to  be."  At  that  father  retired  to  bed, 
leaving  the  minister  confounded.  The 
next  morning  the  discomfited  man  called 
and  made  an  apology. 

He  was  distrustful  of  his  ability  and 
feared  that  he  lacked  the  mental  re- 
sources which  would  sustain  him  in  im- 
portant pastorates.  He  shrunk  from  pub- 
lic occasions  which  would  have  given 
him  prominence,  declined  several  city 
pastorates,  fearful  that  he  should  not  be 
equal  to  their  demands.  He  was  public- 
spirited  as  a  citizen,  alert  to  all  the  new 
currents  of  national,  education  and  re- 
formatory life,  an  abolitionist  when  to 
be  that  was  unpopular;  a  life-long  public 
advocate  of  temperance,  solicitous  not 
only  for  the  public  welfare  in  a  large 
sense,  but  zealous,  watchful,  thoughtful 
for  the  civic  welfare  at  home.  He  re- 
formed and  reorganized  the  school  sys- 
tems where  he  lived,  checked  vicious 
social  tendencies  by  establishing  new  and 
salutary  agencies,  and  while  tenacious  of 
his  own  religious  belief,  was  catholic  in 
all  his  sympathies  and  affiliations. 

His  outward  person  was  the  type  of 
the  inward  man.  Large  minded,  tolerant, 
earnest,  sincere,  alert,  enterprising,  seri- 
ous, kind  hearted,  yet  with  the  softer 
graces  of  affection  for  his  fellows  and 
thoughtful  love  for  his  family  and 
friends.  His  life  was  salutary  in  its  in- 
telligent and  self-sacrificing  devotion  to 
others,  and  his  rnenioiw  is  blessed! 

flDotber. 

I  have  never  known  so  thorough  an 
optimist  as  mother.  She  believed  that 
the  world  was  moving  in  the  right  orbit, 
with  some  little  tendency  to  get  one- 
sided and  wrong-sided,  but  with  an  in- 
ward gravitation  that  would  in  the  main 


keep  it  right  side  up.  She  believed  in 
people  and  persistently  refused  to  hunt 
up  the  wrong  that  was  in  them.  She 
knew  that  humanity  was  something  of 
a  mixture,  with  not  a  little  bad  some- 
where in  every  person,  but  she  would 
let  the  other  folks  find  it,  and  she  would 
see  only  the  good.  She  had  not  much 
sense  of  humor,  and  could  not  always  see 
how  we  boys  used  to  try  to  trap  her 
into  some  disparagement  of  some  bad 
case.  But  mother  would  evade  our  point- 
ing out  of  the  bad  spots  in  the  derelict 
we  were  discussing  and  would  get  over 
on  the  good  side,  and  would,  in  spite  of 
us,  find  some  virtue  which  no  one  else 
had  ever  found  and  which  we  would 
concede  to  her  by  right  of  original  dis- 
covery. She  was  of  the  good  old  Puri- 
tan stock  and  had  a  good  stiff  drop  of 
iron  in  her  veins,  she  could  read  the 
riot  act  if  occasion  called  with  an  em- 
phasis that  was  at  once  effective,  but 
her  wrath  was  always  against  wrong. 
Woe  to  the  gossiper  that  came  to  her 
house  with  her  tale  of  detraction;  more 
than  once  the  backbiter  was  shown  the 
door  and  told  to  keep  on  the  other  side  of 
it  until  she  could  learn  to  think  well  and 
speak  well  of  her  neighbors. 

She  lived  always  on  the  sunny  side  of 
the  house,  was  hopeful,  patient,  every- 
body's burden-bearer,  but  never  com- 
plaining; a  confidant  of  those  in  trouble; 
sympathetic,  always  proud  of  her  chil- 
dren, but  fearful  lest  she  should  spoil 
them  by  over  praise.  She  had  her  hus- 
band's love  of  honor,  was  independent, 
reliant,  seeking  out  opportunities  of  help- 
ing others,  a  model  pastor's  wife,  equally 
devoted  to  her  church  in  her  widowhood, 
a  rare  mother  in  devotion,  courage,  sac- 
rifice. A  neighbor  who  sweetened  and 
brightened  every  community  where  she 
lived;  religious,  yet  not  ostentatious  in 
her  piety;  a  friend  in  whose  presence  the 
young  used  to  love  to  come  and  sit;  the 
beautiful,  white-haired  mother,  of  whom 
her  children  were  proud  because  of  her 
goodness,  whose  memory  is  a  benediction 
in  all  their  homes  and  hearts. 


52 


lEytracts  from  Xettere  from  jfrlenbs  to  wbom  Copies 
of  tbte  IBoofc  were  sent. 


Mrs.  Cordelia  A.  Quinby — It  is  in- 
deed a  most  interesting  life  story  of 
one  of  our  best  clergymen. 


Benjamin  W.  Wilson — Your  father 
must  have  been  a  remarkable  man  to 
have  brought  up  so  large  a  family  with 
such  a  small  income.  I  always  thought' 
the  Gunnisons  about  right,  and  now, 
after  reading  the  history  of  your  good 
father,  I  don't  wonder.  You  will  be 
repaid  for  your  labor  and  give  a  good 
text  book  for  your  children. 


Rev.  Cyrus  H.  Fay,  D.D.— I  knew 
your  honored  father,  as  I  have  often 
told  you ;  and  yet  was  ignorant  of  the 
struggles  and  triumphs  of  his  early 
life.  I  was  also  acquainted  with  your 
mother.  It  is  natural  that  their  chil- 
dren should  be  proud  of  their  parents 
and  desire  to  perpetuate  their  mem- 
ory, and  it  gives  me  pleasure  that  their 
life's  evening  was  cheered  and  bright- 
ened by  the  successes  achieved  by  their 
offspring. 


John  W.  Hinds — N.  Gunnison  was  a 
man  spelled  large,  and  people  have 
spoken  more  freely  to  me  regarding 
him  than  to  you.  I  have  heard  things 
said  that  to  you  would  seem  fulsome 
flattery,  and  yet  every  word  was  true. 
When  I  was  in  Lewiston  and  other 
places  in  Maine  we  clergymen  who 
were  from  St.  Lawrence  had  the  older 
ministers  pretty  well  sized  up.  They 
were  divided  into  "hostiles"  and 
"friendlies."  Rev.  N.  Gunnison  was 
friendly  to  the  young  men,  and  par- 
ticularly to  those  from  St.  Lawrence. 
Oh,  yes,  I  knew  your  father!  You 
ought  to  get  down  on  all  fours  and 
thank  God  that  your  father  was  one 
of  the  best  men  God  ever  made.  Maine 
is  filled  with  Universalists  that  Gun- 
nison made.  You  boys  are  all  right, 
but  in  my  opinion  none  of  you  are 
within  touching  distance  of  your  fa- 
ther in  native  intellectual  power.    You 


know  it's  one  thing  to  think  yourself ; 
it's  a  wonderful  man  who  makes  other 
men  think,  and  that's  what  Rev.  N. 
Gunnison  did. 


Rev.  Joseph  Crehore — I  esteemed 
your  father — he  was  a  man  of  action 
and  quick  decision  and  impatient  of 
any  moral  obliquity.  Your  father  be- 
ing a  predecessor  at  Abington  brought 
me  into  more  intimate  acquaintance 
with  him  and  his  work,  and  also  into 
acquaintance  with  your  mother,  whom 
we  came  to  know  and  prize  more  fully 
as  a  dear  and  valued  friend  during  our 
Canton  pastorate — one  of  the  wisest 
and  most  judicious  of  women,  a  mother 
whose  memory  must  ever  be  a  precious 
treasure  to  her  children. 


Rev.  J.  M.  Atwood,  D.D.— I  have 
read  it,  every  word,  with  the  keenest 
interest,  and  am  thankful  to  know  the 
true  inwardness  of  a  life  of  such  de- 
votion and  usefulness.  Nathaniel  Gun- 
nison was  one  of  the  manliest  of  men. 
His  origin,  his  hardship,  his  self-denial, 
his  industry,  his  courage  and  his  tri- 
umphs constitute  a  deeply  interesting 
story :  while  his  sturdiness,  his  integ- 
rity and  his  perfect  consecration  to  his 
high  business  make  his  life  a  priceless 
legacy  to  his  descendants.  My  only  re- 
gret in  the  perusal  has  been  that  such 
a  story  could  not  be  read  by  all  in  our 
church.  Your  mother  was  one  of  our 
dear  friends  and  the  salt  of  the  earth. 


Rev.  Donald  Fraser — It  is  a  long 
time  since  I  received  anything  from  a 
friend  that  I  prized  more  highly  than 
I  do  this.  Having  heard  so  many  pleas- 
ant things  while  in  Halifax  about  youi 
father,  from  the  lips  of  those  who 
loved  and  honored  him  for  the  brave 
stand  he  took  during  the  civil  war  and 
the  grand  work  he  did  for  our  faith 
and  church  in  that  city,  I  felt  a  deeper 
interest    in    reading   his    life    than    I 


53 


would  had  I  never  met  so  many  of  his 
warm  friends  and  sympathizers.  Then 
knowing  your  mother  so  well  I  was 
touched  when  I  read  once  more  of  the 
strong  faith  she  manifested  in  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  God. 


Rev.  A.  J.  Canfield,  D.D.— Its  publi- 
cation was  a  graceful  conception,  which 
has  been  appropriately  executed  and 
cannot  fail  to  serve  as  an  inspiring 
souvenir  for  a  family  that  has  already 
justified  in  large  measure  the  self-sac- 
rificing fidelity  of  its  founders.  No- 
bility of  ancestral  character  certainly 
counts  for  much. 


From  the  Halifax   Evening  Mail. 
February  8,  1909. 

George  B.  Stephenson,  American  vice 
and  deputy  consul  general  at  Halifax, 
spoke  before  the  Ethical  Seminar  in 
the  Universalist  church  parlors  yester- 
day on  "The  Personality  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,''  in  anticipation  of  the  Lin- 
coln centennial  of  February  12.  In  in- 
troducing the  speaker  Mr.  Pennoyer 
referred  to  the  fact  that  under  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  during  the  American 
civil  war,  the  Universalist  minister  in 
this  city,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Gunnison, 
acted  as  United  States  consul  for  this 
city,  and  that  the  British  commanding 
general,  then  located  at  Halifax,  said 
of  Mr.  Gunnison  that  he  was  the  finest 
man  he  had  ever  met.  Mr.  Stephen- 
son's address  was  interesting  and  prof- 
itable. 


An  Extract  from  "The  Old  China 
Book,"  by  N.  Hudson  Moore.  Published 
by  Fred'k  A.  Stokes  Co..  N.  Y.  1903,  on 
Page  109  and  110 

Fig  90  is  a  twelve-inch  Washington 
jug,  with  a  more  than  usually  swell- 
ing shape.  There  is  a  small  portrait  on 
the  pedestal  and  the  words  "First  in 
War,  First  in  Peace.  First  in  Fame 
and  First  in  Victory." 

A  naval  officer  and  Fame  stand  on 
either  side  of  the  shaft,  and  the  pic- 
ture is  surrounded  with  scallops  show- 
ing the  names  of  the  thirteen  states. 
Notwithstanding  the  pedestal  or  obe- 
lisk, I  should  place  this  jug  as  made 


prior  to  1800  from  the  use  of  the  thir- 
teen states  in  the  border. 

On  the  reverse  side  is  a  full-rigged 
ship,  with  the  American  flag  in  colors, 
and  on  the  front  in  a  wreath  the  in- 
scription, "A  Present  to  Capt.  Nath'l 
Gunnison." 

It  is  in  perfect  condition  and  sold 
for    $00.00 

In  the  rooms  of  the  Antiquarian  So- 
ciety at  Concord.  Mass.,  there  are  sev- 
eral of  these  jugs  of  large  size  and  in 
good  condition. 

They  are  in  two  sizes,  10-inch  and 
12-inch. 

(The  above  does  not  refer  to  Rev. 
N.  Gunnison.) 


At  a  dinner  to  Dr.  Walter  B.  Gun- 
nison, given  by  the  St.  Lawrence  Club, 
New  York  City,  in  1909,  Dr.  St.  Clair 
McKelway,  editor  of  the  Brooklyn 
Eagle,  regretted  that  he  could  not  be 
present ;  "but,"  he  said,  "I  want  to  as- 
sure you  of  my  appreciation  of  the  Uni- 
versity, of  its  Club  in  New  York  City, 
and  of  the  propriety  of  making  you 
the  focus  and  the  radius  of  attention 
on  its  coming  occasion. 

"The  University  is  all  right.  And 
why?  One  reason  is  because  another 
Gunnison  is  president.  Another  reason 
is  because  another  Gunnison  is  the 
business  manager  of  the  paper  of 
which  I  am  the  editor.  A  third  reason 
is  that  the  University  is  the  foster- 
mother  of  still  a  third  Gunnison,  who 
is  yourself,  and  who  is  the  brother  of 
the  two  other  Gunnisons,  a  tribe  of 
which  the  woods  seem  full,  and  the 
second,  the  third  and  fourth  genera- 
tions of  which  are  worthy  of  the  pri- 
mordial Gunnison,  who  as  a  clergyman, 
an  educator  and  a  pioneer  was  not 
only  the  friend  of  civilization,  the  up- 
holder of  trust  in  humanity  and  of 
love  in  Christianity,  but  the  progenitor, 
direct  or  sequential,  of  all  the  other 
Gunnisons  since  himself,  who  should 
be  happy  to  recur  to  and  to  resemble 
him,  and  who  should  be  happy  in  the 
resurrection,  should  they  awake  in  his 
likeness.  Now  please  take,  as  a  truly 
good  man,  the  truly  sincere  congratu- 
lations of  another  man  who  wishes  he 
was  better,  but  who  is  glad  to  be  your 
friend." 


54 


Gbe  Descendants  of  IHatbaniel  (Sunnteon 

Nathaniel,    born    February   14,    1811;    died   August  25,   1871. 

Married    Sarah    A.    Richardson,    February,    1834;   died  January  22,  1837. 

1.  MariHa  Ann,  born  April  28,  1836;  died  November  22,   1901. 

Married  Ann  Louisa  Foster,   August  12,  1838;  born  April  15,  1819;  died  October  22,  1888. 

2.  Foster  N,   born  April  4,   1840. 

3.  Anna  Louise,    born   March   21,    1842;    died  June  21,   1861. 

4.  Almon,    born    March   2,    1844. 

5.  Walter  Balfour,   born  May  2,   1852. 

6.  Herbert  Foster,   born  June  28,   1858. 

1.  Marilla  Ann  married  Willard  P.   Griffin  (born  May  22,  1832),   April  26,  1857. 

7.  Annie  Gunnison,  born  January  4,  1860. 

8.  Willard   N.,   born  October  5,   1863. 

9.  Marilla  Carmen,    born   February  19,  1865. 

10.  Frank   Davis,    born   December  11,  1866. 

11.  Alice  Belle,   born  September  31,  1868;  died  May  17,   1887. 

12.  Jane  Clark,  born  December  16,  1870. 

13.  Emma   Elliott,    born  June   23,    1873;  died  August  23,  1873. 

14.  Herbert   Foster,   born   August   19,   1875. 

15.  Martha  Davis,   born  June  21,  1878. 

2.  Foster    N,    married    Emma    Elliott    (born  October  26,     1839),   September  5,   1866. 

16.  Anna  Louisa,   born  July  26,   1867. 

4.  Almon  married  Ella  Everest  (born  April  6,    1848),   July  7,   1868. 

17.  Fred  Everest,   born  May  28,   1869. 

18.  Agnes    Lulu,    born   December   27,    1874. 

5.  Walter   Balfour   married    Blanche   Eaton  (born  July  29,  1854),  January  18,  1876. 

19.  Stanley   Eaton,   born   November  11,   1876. 

20.  Alice,   born  November  21,   1877. 

21.  Almon   Gage,   born   November  7,   18S0. 

22.  Adelaide  Fancher,   born   December  31,   1886. 

23.  Portia,  born  February  27,  1890. 

6.  Herbert  Foster  married  Alice  May   (born    October    29,    1861;    died    August    3,     1903), 

April  29,   1886. 

24.  Raymond  May,  born  April  14,  1887. 

25.  Edith,   born   April   15,   1890;   died  June  11,  1894. 

26.  Florence,   born  August  13,    1892. 

27.  Foster,    born  June  9,   1896. 

7.  Annie  G.   Griffin  married  Frederick   S.   Jewett,   December  2,   1SS6. 

28.  Marion  F.,   born  September  30,   1887. 

29.  Ruth   Saville,   born   May  22,    1890;   died  January  21,  1893. 

8.  Willard   N.   Griffin  married  Emma  L.   White,  October  13,  1888. 

9.  Marilla   C.   Griffin    married   Charles   E.   Cunningham,   June  4,   1885. 

30.  James  H.,   born  June  15,   1886. 

31.  N.    Carlton,   born   February   6,  1891;  died  August  28,  1894. 

10.    Frank  Davis   Griffin   married  Lydia   Florence   Lincoln,   January  20,  1909. 
12.    Jane  Clark  Griffin  married  W.    Howard  Poland,   June  1,   1892. 

32.  Eustis   Leland,    born    August    23,    1893. 

33.  Herbert   Griffin,   born  November  7,    1895. 

40.  Ruth   Eunice,    born   March   18,  1907. 

14.  Herbert    Foster   Griffin    married   Jennie  F.   Craft,   November  14,   1901. 

15.  Martha  Davis  Griffin  married  Herbert  W.   Rawson,  January  14,   1901. 

36.  Marilla  Gunnison  Rawson,    born   May  17,   1902. 
39.    Warren   Rawson,   born  April   4,   1906. 

42.  Elizabeth   Rawson,   born   June  20,   1907;   died  April  26,   1909. 

43.  Herbert  W.    Rawson,   Jr.,   born  July  6,   1909. 

17.  Fred  Everest  Gunnison  married  Rose    I.    Fancher    (born    January    28,    1870),    No- 

vember 22,    1899. 

34.  Almon   Fancher  Gunnison,    born   March  5,   1901;   died  March  18,   1903. 
38.    Elsa  Gunnison,    born  January  15,  1904. 

18.  Agnes   Lulu    Gunnison   married   Guy  Leslie  Harrington  March   24,   1909. 

19.  Stanley  E.  Gunnison  married  Harriet   O.    McLaughlin    (born    December  23,    1875), 

June   5,    1900. 

35.  Mary  Eaton,   born  March  31,   1901. 

37.  Hugh   Gunnison,   born   February  10,    1903. 

41.  Blanche  Gunnison,  born  April  27,   1907. 

21.    Almon  Gage  Gunnison  married   Alice  Poste  (born  January  24,  1SS1),  April  3,  1907. 

44.  Walter   Balfour   Gunnison,    2nd,  born  February  21,  1910. 

30.    James   Hutchinga  Cunningham   married  Ann  Kimberly  Gifford,  November  6,  1909. 

55 


Ube  Descendants  of  fflatbaniel  Gunnison— Continued 


56 


Sbe  2>e6cenfcant0  of  1bugb  Gunnison 

1.  Hugh    Gunnison,   Sweden,    England,    America,    born    about    1610;    died    in    Kittery,    Me., 

after   September   21,    165S. 
M.  1st,   Elizabeth,  1635;  died  January  25,  1646. 
M.  2nd,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lynn,  May  23,  1647,   in  Boston. 

2.  Elihu,  born  February  12,  1650,  in  Boston;  died   in  Kittery,   Me.,   after  March  29,   1729. 

M.   1st,    Martha  Trickee,   at   Dover,    N.  H.,   November  10,   1674. 
M.  2nd,  Elizabeth 

3.  Joseph,   Kittery,    Me.,    born  October  14,    1690;   died   September  8,    174S. 

M.   1st,    Susanna  Follett. 
M.  2nd,   Elizabeth  Lewis. 
M.   3rd,   Margaret  Nelson. 
M.  4th,  Susanna  Ayers. 

4.  Samuel,   Kittery,   Me.,   Halifax,   N.    S.,    Goshen,    N.    H.,    born   January   27,    1720-1;    died 

May  14,    1S06. 
M.  1st,  Jane  Fernald,  born  February  6,  1745-6;  died  January  20,   1750. 
M.  2nd,   Alice  Fernald,   May  3,   1752;  born  February  21,   1725-6;  died  July  5,   1804. 

5.  Nathaniel,   Goshen,   N.  H.,  born  July  16,  1766;  died  April  15,  1S13. 

M.    Hannah    Batchelder,    January  4,    17S9;  born  1767;  died  April  15,   1813. 

6.  Nathaniel,  bom  February  14,   1811;   died  August  25,   1871. 

M.    1st,    Sarah  A.    Richardson,    February,   1834. 
M.  2nd,  Ann  L.  Foster,  August  12,  1838. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of   Nathaniel   Gunnison   were: 
Sally  Hook,  born  October  1,   1789. 
Polly,    born    October  6,    1791. 
John,    born    February   4,    1794. 

Bllley,    born    April    11,    1796;    died    September  4,    1796. 
Billey,    born    November  10,    1797:  died  April   5,    1799. 
Levi    Bartlett,    born   February   22,    1799. 
(Baby)    born    March    13,    1802;    died   March  15,   1802. 
Hannah,    born    June    5,    1803. 
Almira,    born  December  10,  1S05. 
Lemira,    born    April    21,    1808. 
Nathaniel,    born    February   14.    1S11. 

Sally    Hook   was  the    mother   of   Rev.    Almon    Gage. 

The  Gunnison  country  in  Colorado  was  named  after  Captain  John  W.  Gunnison  (born 
November  11,  1812;  died  October  26,  1853),  of  the  United  States  Army,  who  was  massacred 
while    exploring   on    the   Sevier   River.     He    was   a   cousin    of    Nathaniel. 

For   the   Geneology   of   the   Gunnison   family  see    the    "Geneology    of    the    Descendants 

of   Hugh   Gunnison,"    published   by  J.    B.    &   C.    E.    Gunnison,    Erie,    Pa. 


57 


Zbc  E)escenoents  of  1buQb  Gunnison— Continue© 


Gbe  IDescentmnte  of  ]£&munfc>  jfteeman 

1.  Edmund  Freeman,   progenitor  of  all  the  Cape  Cod  Freemans. 

2.  Major  John  Freeman  married  Mercy  Prince. 

3.  Thomas  Freeman,  son  of  Major  John  and  Mercy  (Prince)  Freeman. 

4.  Edmund  Freeman,   son  of  Thomas,   married  Phebe  "Watson. 

5.  Edmund  Freeman,   son  of  Edmund  and   Phebe  (Watson)  Freeman,  married  Mary  Clarke. 

G.    Phebe  Freeman,  daughter  of  Edmund,   Jr.,  and  Mary  Clarke  Freeman,  married  David 
Foster. 

7.    Freeman    Foster,    son    of    David    and    Phebe    (Freeman)   Foster. 


1.  Elder  Brewster,  born  in  England,   1560,  came  to  America  in  the  Mayflower,  1620. 

2.  Patience,   daughter  of  Elder  Brewster;  married  Governor  Thomas  Prince. 

3.  Mercy  Prince,  daughter  of  Governor  Thomas   Prince   and  Patience    (Brewster)    Prince; 

married  Major  John  Freeman. 

4.  John  Freeman,  Jr.,  son  of  Major  John  and  Mercy  (Prince)  Freeman. 

5.  Mercy  Freeman,   daughter  of  John  Freeman,  Jr.;  married  Chillingsworth  Foster. 

6.  Isaac  Foster,  son  of  Chillingsworth  and   Mercy    (Freeman)    Foster;    married    Hannah 

Sears. 

7.  David  Foster,  son  of  Isaac  and  Hannah    (Sears)     Foster;     married     Phebe     Freeman, 

daughter   of    Edmund    Freeman   and   Mary  (Clarke)  Freeman. 

S.    Freeman  Foster,  son  of  David  and  Phebe  Freeman  Foster. 


(Tbe  Bescenbants  of  Sbomae  jfoeter 

The  Foster  family  originated  in  Flanders.  The  first  ancestor  to  whom  the  family  can  be 
authentically  traced  is  Anacher,  Great  Forester  of  Flanders,  who  died  in  837,  Reginald  Foster, 
born  in  Burton,  England,  came  to  America  during  the  latter  part  of  the  16th  century,  and 
with  him  were  his  wife  and  seven  children. 

1.  Thomas  Foster  was  the  progenitor  of  this  family;  died  Billerica,   Mass.,   April  20,   16S2. 

M.   Elizabeth. 

2.  John  Foster,  born  in  Weymouth,  Mass.,  October  7,  1642;  died  about  1732. 

M.   Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Chillingsworth. 

3.  Chillingsworth,   Foster,  born  in  Marshfield,   Mass.,  July  11,  16S0.     (He  went  to  that  part 

of  Harwich  which  is  now  Brewster,  bought  a  tract  of  land  about  1697-99,  and  built 

a  dwelling);   died   17o4. 
M.  1st,  Mercy  Freeman. 
M.   2nd,   Mrs.  Susanna  Sears. 
M.  3rd,  Mrs.  Ruth  Sears. 

4.  Isaac  Foster,   born  June  17,   1718;   died  September  10,   1770. 

M.  Hannah  Sears,  daughter  of  his  stepmother. 

5.  David,  born  March  24,  1742;  died  April  12,   1825. 

M.  Phebe  Freeman. 

6.  Freeman    Foster,  born  May  1,  17S2;  died  February  1870. 

M.  1st,   Mehitable  Low  of  Barre,  Mass.;  born  May  25,  1783;  married  January  15,   1806; 

died  September  30,  1842. 
M.  2nd,  Mrs.  Sarah  Mayo. 
M.  3rd,  Mrs.  Belinda  J.   Nye. 

59 


Gbe  Bescenfcants  of  jfreeman  jFoeter  an& 
HDcbltable  Xow 

1.  Freeman,  Jr.,  born  March  4,  1S07;   married   Nancy   S.    Ingalls,   bom  Feb.   16,   1S09,   died 

Aug.    4,    1SSS. 

2.  Mehitable  Low,    born   Dec.    7,    1S0S;    married    Tully    Crosby. 

3.  David,  born  July  10,   1S10;  married  (.1)  Cynthia  C.   Berry  (2)   Mary  Anne   Linehan. 

4.  Phoebe  Freeman,   born  Oct.  15,  1S12;  married  (1)  Isaac  Doane  (2)  Josiah  Linnell. 

5.  Sarah  Hickling,   born  Oct.   25,   1S14;   married   Capt.    Elisha   Bangs. 

6.  Martha,    born  June   10,   1S17;   married  Asa  Mayo. 

7.  Ann   Louisa,    born  April  15,   1S19;   married  Rev.    Nathaniel  Gunnison. 

8.  Lucretia,   born  Feb.  21,   1821;   married  Rev.   Cyrus  A.   Bradley. 

9.  "William  Low,   born  Sept.    30,    1S22;   married   Matilda   Higgins. 
10.  Sophia,   born  April  S,   1S23;   married   Nathaniel  T.   Hunt. 


(1)    Children   of   Freeman   Foster,   Jr.,  and  Nancy  Ingalls: 

1-a.     Isabella   (born   Oct.    21.    1S31),    married    Gilman    Osgood,    Dec.    23,    ISoo;    died    Sept. 
9,   1S99.     Their  children: 
1-b.     Isabella,    born    Feb.    3,    1S57;    married  William   S.    Tyler;  died   May  19,   1889. 
2-b.    Marion  I.,  born  June  27,  1859;  married  "Walter  Noyes,   Nov.  29,   1SS3,   1  child, 

(1)   Marion  Temple,  born   Sept.  19,   1SS4. 
3-b.    Gilman.   Jr.,    born   Feb.   26,   1S63;  married  Mabel  Russell,  Jan.   14,  1891.   Children: 

(1)  Louise    R.,    born   Nov.    6,   1S91. 

(2)  Gilman,   3d,   born  April   11,  1S95. 

(3)  j  Foster    I  D1S97 

(4)  ^RussellJ 

(5)  Helen    H.,    born    April    27,  1904. 

4-b.     Charles  G.,  born  Aug.   30,  1S69. 
2-a.     Abby,   born   March   12,    1S33.    died   July    13,    1909. 

3-a.     Freeman,    3d,    born   June   29,    1S35;    died    April    25,     1SSS;     married    Jane     Wellman, 
March    10, '  1S58,    who    died   Jan.  29,    1902. 

1.  Freeman,    4th,    born  July   29,    I860,   died  Dec.    22,    1SS9. 

2.  Jennie   Wellman,   born   Oct.    11,   188S. 

3.  Frank   Stetson,    born   Feb.   7,    1S70,   died  Dec.  15,  1871. 

4.  Helen  Louise,   born  Oct.   S,  1871. 

4-a.     Mary    Freeman,    born    Aug.    23,    1S40;    married    (1)    Edward    Nash.    Aug.    7,     1862, 
died    June    17,    1863;    (2)    M.    Ferdinand   Nash,    Sept.    22,    1869,   died   April   16,   1905. 

1.  Alice,   born  Sept.    19,   1871. 

2.  Bessie  Foster,   born   Sept.  22,   1S77. 


(2)    Mehitable    Low   Foster  and  Tully  Crosby.     Four   children: 

1.  Tully,   died   in   infancy. 

2.  Tully,   Jr.,  born  Aug.   21,   1S41,    died    1909;    married    (1)    Loella    Hopkins    (2) 
Melissa    Hopkins. 

Walter,  son  of  Tully,  Jr.,  and  Loella  Hopkins,  died  in  infancy. 
Grace  Loella,  daughter  by  Melissa  Hopkins,   married  Arthur  Wendell. 

3.  Freling,    born    1843,    died    1850. 

4.  Hittie  Low,   born   July  14,    1S48;   died   August  17,  1907. 


(3)    Children  of  David  Foster: 

1-a.     Ellen,   born  Nov.   16.   1S34.  died    Jan.     22,    1906.     married    Elisha    Freeman 
Sears,    born    May   2,    1S60,    died    April    15,    1897. 
1-b.     Annie   Foster,  born   April   14,   1863,   married  Elmer  Ellsworth  Hudson. 
1-c.     Elisha    Sears    Hudson,    born  Aug.    30,   1893. 
2-c.    Richard    Brewster  Hudson,    born    Aug.    1,    1898. 
2-a.    Mehitable,   born  May  13,   1S36.   died  Nov.   5,  1858. 
3-a.    Emma   Frances   Foster,   born  Dec.    21,   1S44. 

60 


4-a.    Martha   Lucretia,   born  June    25,    1S46;     married    Dec.    5,     1S67,    Charles 
Lincoln;    born    Nov.    23,    1S45. 

Chas    Edwin    Lincoln,    born   July  19,   1896;   married   Mary  Alice   Berry 
July   7,    1896. 

David   Foster   Lincoln,    born  July   IS,   1S72;   died   Feb.   22,   1899. 

Robert    Sears   Lincoln,    born    Nov.    22,    18S0;    married    Winifred    E.    Mc- 
Kay,   June    30,    1909. 

Ruth    Deborah    Lincoln,  born  June  15,  1910. 

Paul    Lincoln,    born    Dec.   3,   1S83;   married  Ethel  A.    Barr,   Jan.    1,   1908. 
5-a.     Mary   Louise    Foster,    born    April    20,    1865. 
6-a.    Lenette    Foster,    born    Nov.   10,    1866,    married  John   Henry   Parmerton. 

John  Henry  Parmerton,  Jr.,  born  March  18,  1895. 

Foster   Parmerton,   born   Dec.    19,    1896. 

Lewis  Bigelow  Parmerton,  born  March  20,   1903. 
7-a.     David    Foster,    Jr.,    born  March  12,    1S75,    married   Caroline   Stowell    Bell, 

Oct.    9,    1901. 

Mary    Paddock   Foster,    born   Oct.    S,   1902. 

Rachel   Foster,   born  May  10,   1904. 

Caroline   Stowell  Foster,   born   Dec.   7,   1905. 


(4)    Phoebe  Freeman   Foster,    one  child  by  first  husband  (Doanej : 

Evelyn,   born  Aug.    17,   1839;   married    (1)   Nathaniel   Hunt,    (2)   James   Damon, 
(3)   Seth   Bennett;   no   children. 


(5)    Sarah    Hickling    Foster  and    Elisha    Bangs— 5   children: 

1.  Daughter  died   in   infancy. 

2.  Elisha    Dillingham,    married   Georgiana   Skillings;    daughter,    married  Les- 

lie   M.    Brown,    one   or   more    children. 

3.  Son,    died   young. 

i.    Herbert   Harold,   married  Elizabeth  Scudder.    3  sons. 

1.  Boy,    died    in    infancy. 

2.  Harold   S.,    born   March    2S,    1S74. 

3.  Clarence    F.,    born    April   2,    1876. 
5.    Loella    Foster. 


(6)    Martha   and    Asa    Mayo;    no    children. 


(7)    Ann    Louisa   and    Nathaniel   Gunnison;  5  children.   (See  page  55). 


(8)    Lucretia  and   Cyrus   A.    Bradley;  2  children. 

Asa    Mayo,    born    March   9,    1856;   married   Mary   H.   Emery;   no   children. 
Cyrena   Augusta,    born   Oct.    6,  1860,  died  1861. 


(9)    William   Low    and    Matilda   Higgins.      Children: 
William  Osborn  Foster. 
Freling   Crosby  Foster. 
Elmer  Foster,    died. 
Seaward  Foster. 
Ernest  Foster. 


(10)    Sophia  and   Nathaniel  Hunt.    Child: 

Wilmer,   died  at  sea,   age  about   20   (1S79). 


61 


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